Is it fuel scarcity or sabotage…?

 • Long queues appear at filling stations in Abuja, Lagos, Ogun and environs

LAGOS residents woke up yesterday to notice long queues at filling stations in the metropolis following rumours of fuel scarcity in the state.

 Before now, fuel shortages were only reported in Abuja, the nation’s capital and major cities across the country, as motorists formed long queues to buy the product from a few stations that had the commodity.

 However, signs of scarcity were noticed in Lagos on Saturday evening, when some filling stations were placed   under lock and key on the ground that they had   run out of the product.

 The situation got worse yesterday afternoon, when long queues resurfaced in a few stations that were still selling the product.

 Motorists were yesterday seen queuing to buy fuel at Ogba, Ikeja, Berger, Ikotun, Surulere, Akute, Alapere- Ketu, Town Planning Way, Ilupeju and Ajao Estate several other places within the metropolis.

  A dealer, who gave his name simply as Idowu, said the queue was caused by panic buying and hoarding by some marketers.

 The scarcity, he said, would soon ease out, as there was no cause for alarm.

 At Oando Filling Station near Estate, Alapere, one of the few stations selling the product, the ensuing queue stretched close to Ogudu, while the queue at Total Filling Station, near Chinese in Ojota caused severe traffic snarl along the Expressway.

  A motorist, Kunle Ajay, who said he got news of the fuel scarcity on Saturday night, said fuel stations in his neighbourhood had refused to sell till later in the evening.

 According to him, he was desperate to fill his car tank preparatory for work on Monday because he did not know what the situation would turn out to be.

 He said: “ The situation might be worse today (Monday), considering the fact that it is the first working day in week and also the first in the month of March.

  Another motorist, Kingsley Kanu, said some filling stations in border towns like Mowe, Ibafo and Arepo situated along Lagos- Ibadan expressway   have started hoarding the product as a result of the rumour of scarcity.

  Meanwhile, a senior official at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said there is enough fuel to keep the country going.