The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has expressed his dissatisfaction with fuel marketers who have taken advantage of Nigerians by increasing fuel prices. During a surprise visit to civil servants at the secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja, the Governor berated the marketers for hiking fuel prices and causing long queues at petrol stations.
Governor Sanwo-Olu was accompanied by the Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, and was taken around by the Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola. He described the sudden hike in petrol price and attendant queues as “unfair” and stated that Nigerians need to be sincere enough when dealing with fellow citizens.
He added that the recent pronouncement on the removal of fuel subsidy by the new President, Bola Tinubu, should not have caused long queues at petrol stations. He urged Nigerians to go about their normal businesses and be law-abiding, assuring them that things would turn out for the better.
The resurfacing of long queues at fuel stations in Lagos metropolis came after the new President’s pronouncement, which made some stations shut their pumps in panic. Several areas including Ikeja, Ojodu, Epe, Ikorodu, Ketu, Maryland, Bariga and Ikorodu Road experienced gridlocks with some stations even shutting down.
The Governor’s visit is part of his efforts to support efficient service delivery and to ensure that civil servants carry out their duties effectively. He called on fuel marketers to be more considerate towards Nigerians, especially during a time when the country is facing numerous economic challenges.
The Governor’s condemnation of fuel marketers is expected to put pressure on them to reduce fuel prices and improve the ease of distribution across the state.
