Marketers of petroleum products have expressed concerns that the alleged harassment of tanker drivers by officials of the Lagos State Government could lead to fuel scarcity in a few days, as some filling stations were shut in various parts of the state on Monday

They also vowed to shut down operations in the South-West if the 30 tankers arrested by the Lagos State Government are not released.

This came as the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers has warned that the imposition of illegal levies on petroleum product trucks by agencies of the Lagos State Government could trigger a nationwide scarcity of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, commonly known as cooking gas.

The oil marketers berated the Lagos State Government for allegedly invading the park of the tanker drivers along the Dangote refinery road in the Lekki Free Trade Zone to tow away vehicles.

They said 30 tankers loaded with 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit were towed out of the Dangote refinery at about 2 am on Saturday.

Tanker drivers have stopped fuel loading over alleged harassment by officials of the Lagos State Government and the Federal Ministry of Transportation.

It was learned that the truck drivers could not load fuel on Saturday and Sunday, creating fears of scarcity in Lagos and other states. They also did not load on Monday.

Our correspondent learned that the tanker drivers refused to load fuel on Monday because they feared being harassed or arrested by the government task force.

In an interview with our correspondent on Monday, the National Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Hammed Fashola, said members of the association were affected by the situation because most of the trucks belong to marketers.

Fashola condemned the government?s action, advising that there should have been a dialogue with stakeholders in the midstream and downstream.

He alleged that the officials of the government stormed the area where the trailers were packed around 2 am last week and made away with many trucks, loaded and unloaded.

?This is really affecting us because most of these trucks belong to us, even the product belongs to some of the IPMAN members. So, it?s really affecting us and we are not happy with the action of the Lagos State Government. So, if there is anything, there is a need for dialogue.

?The task force went there at 2 am to arrest those trucks. And for most of our tankers, we gave them instructions that they should not be travelling at night. So, they all loaded and parked for them to take off, maybe as early as 5 am. But the task force went there and towed all the trucks along the Dangote refinery Road. We don?t know what the government?s complaints are. When they call for a meeting, we will know the motive behind the action,? Fashola stated.

He maintained that the inability of the truck drivers to transport fuel for days would result in scarcity unless something is done urgently. He said that though the filling stations are still selling, they will not have anything to sell when their tanks are empty in a few days.

?Of course, there could be fuel scarcity. Though we have not closed down our stations; if we run out of stocks, what do we do?? he asked.

The IPMAN leader maintained that the task force ?would have done something more reasonable than going there to tow away all the trucks.?

He added, ?If they have any complaints, they are challenged to make their complaints known instead of taking such an action. So, I?m sure they will call for a meeting and we will know why they do that.?

When told that the state government has insisted on enforcing its e-call-up system, Fashola asked the government to provide an alternative park for trucks.

?Have they shown you their own park where the tankers will go and park? A law without provisions will not work.

?When you say nobody should park trucks, maybe along the road or anywhere, you must find a modern park. All these things are not there. We don?t want to talk much, but when we see them or when they call for a meeting, then we will talk one-on-one because this action is uncalled for.

?The cost of a truck now is no less than N150m, regardless of the content. The content is no less than N50m. And the task force went there at midnight and towed them, without minding the safety; without minding that there could be an explosion. It?s very dangerous. But I don?t understand how government officials could behave this way, especially in Lagos,? he stated.

In a statement by the Deputy Director of Public Affairs in the Ministry of Transport, Lagos State, Bolanle Ogunlola, the government stated that it arrested 11 trucks, alleging that its officials were attacked.

According to the statement, the government said enforcement of the e-call-up system commenced on January 24, 2025, with 10 trucks apprehended but were later released as an act of goodwill by the state government with assurance from the stakeholders to adjust by coming onboard the e-call up system.

?However, on Friday, February 21, 2025, 11 trucks were apprehended again for non-compliance, which led to the attack of the enforcement officers and the arrest of some suspects connected with the attack, though, the suspects and trucks have all been released as further indication of government?s support for willful compliance.

?The state government warns that these acts of clemency should not be seen as weakness on the part of the government. Stakeholders on the axis are cautioned that a total enforcement process will commence from March 1, 2025. All violators will be apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law.

?The Lagos State Government remains committed to providing a conducive environment for the success of all stakeholders situated and operating along the Lekki-Epe axis, and, by extension, the state as a whole,? the statement concluded.

Cooking gas scarcity

The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers has warned that Lagos State Government agencies? imposition of illegal levies on petroleum product trucks could trigger a nationwide scarcity of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, commonly known as cooking gas.

NALPGAM President Abideen Olatunbosun, raised the alarm in a statement on Monday, cautioning that continued harassment of truck drivers and levying by government officials could cripple LPG distribution, leading to severe consequences for households and businesses.

According to the association, truck drivers have boycotted loading at Dangote Refinery since February 22, 2025, in protest against commuting levies they described as ?extortion? by regulatory agencies.

Olatunbosun warned that the commuting levies imposed on petrol product truck drivers may result in LPG scarcity, asserting ?There is an imminent scarcity of cooking gas looming in the country. Agencies of the Lagos State Government?s drive for revenue have imposed commuting levies on petroleum products trucks including LPG trucks moving in and out of the State.

?Their activities have led to the paralysis of loading activities at Dangote Refinery since Saturday 22nd February 2025. The boycott of the Refinery by truck drivers as a result of the extortion by these agencies will result in a mass scarcity of cooking gas if the government does not address the situation immediately.?

The association called on Lagos State authorities, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) to intervene urgently to avert a crisis.

?It is imperative that these agencies cease their harassment of tanker drivers and put an end to the collection of illegal fees. The current strike action that is affecting loadings at all the terminals in Lagos, if allowed to continue, may spread to other states of the Federation, the overall effect of which will have far-reaching consequences on the economy and the well-being of Nigerians,? the NAPGALM president remarked.

ALPGAM explained that since December 2024 cooking gas prices have been on a downward trend. This follows an earlier surge that saw a 20-metric-tonne truck of LPG peak at over N24m, pushing the retail price to nearly N2,000 per kilogram.

According to Olatunbosun, Ekpo?s intervention and Dangote refinery?s entry into the domestic LPG market contributed to a price drop to around N16m per 20MT truck, significantly improving affordability for Nigerian households.

However, the association warned that the ongoing strike action by truck drivers could erase these gains and reverse the current stability in the cooking gas market.

South-West stations

The South-West Zone of IPMAN threatened to shut down operations across the region if the tankers seized were not released, as some filling stations were shut in the region on Monday.

IPMAN Western Zone Chairman, Joseph Akanni, made this known on Monday, during an interview with newsmen in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Akanni declared the association?s support for the Petroleum Tanker Drivers and other stakeholders in the industry over the issue, saying ?An injury to one is an injury to all.?

Similarly, the National President of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, Yusuf Othman, expressed dissatisfaction that the Lagos State officials and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority were allegedly extorting tanker owners and drivers.

He said the e-call-up system would not commence until March 1, wondering why about 20 trucks were seized. (The PUNCH)

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