Marketers of petroleum products have raised concerns over a possible fuel crisis in the coming days following the alleged harassment of tanker drivers by Lagos State Government officials. This development has already led to the closure of some filling stations in Lagos, and if unresolved, could extend to other states in the South-West.
The tanker drivers are currently protesting what they describe as an unjust seizure of their vehicles. According to reports, government task force officials invaded the Dangote Refinery Road in the Lekki Free Trade Zone at about 2 AM on Saturday and towed away 30 tankers, each loaded with 45,000 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). In response, tanker drivers have refused to load fuel for several days, creating fears of an imminent fuel shortage.
Speaking on the situation, the National Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Hammed Fashola, stated that members of the association are being directly affected since most of the seized trucks belong to them. He criticized the actions of the Lagos State Government, describing the move as unfair and avoidable. He also emphasized that a lack of dialogue between the government and stakeholders in the petroleum sector has escalated the problem.
Fashola explained that many of the affected tankers had parked for safety reasons, in compliance with company policies that discourage night travel. However, government officials allegedly stormed the area and impounded the vehicles without prior warning. He further noted that the inability of tanker drivers to transport fuel for several days will inevitably lead to a shortage, as filling stations will run out of stock once their current supply is exhausted.
Despite the concerns raised by IPMAN, the Lagos State Government has defended its actions. In a statement issued by the Deputy Director of Public Affairs at the Ministry of Transport, Bolanle Ogunlola, the government maintained that the enforcement of the e-call-up system began on January 24, 2025, with an initial arrest of 10 trucks that were later released as a goodwill gesture. However, on February 21, 2025, 11 more trucks were seized for non-compliance, prompting an attack on enforcement officers. The statement warned that full enforcement of the system would begin on March 1, 2025, and all violators would be arrested and prosecuted.
The disagreement between marketers and the Lagos State Government has raised fears of worsening fuel scarcity, particularly in Lagos and other South-Western states. If the issue is not quickly addressed, it could lead to long queues at filling stations, higher transportation costs, and economic disruptions.
Cooking Gas Shortage Looms as LPG Marketers Protest Against Illegal Levies
In a related development, the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) has warned of an impending nationwide shortage of cooking gas. The association has accused Lagos State Government agencies of imposing illegal levies on petroleum product trucks, including those transporting Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
According to NALPGAM President, Abideen Olatunbosun, truck drivers have been boycotting loading at Dangote Refinery since February 22, 2025, in protest against what they describe as excessive and unlawful levies. The association has expressed concerns that if the government does not intervene quickly, the refusal of truck drivers to transport LPG will result in a shortage, affecting both households and businesses across the country.
Olatunbosun emphasized that the government’s revenue drive should not come at the expense of critical sectors such as energy supply. He warned that if loading activities remain paralyzed at major terminals in Lagos, the impact could spread to other states, ultimately leading to widespread hardship for Nigerians.
NALPGAM 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 N24 million, pushing the retail price to nearly N2,000 per kilogram.
According to Olatunbosun, the intervention of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, and the entry of Dangote Refinery into the domestic LPG market contributed to a price drop to around N16 million 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.
NALPGAM has called on the Lagos State Government, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) to take immediate action to prevent a full-scale crisis. The association urged authorities to put an end to the harassment of tanker drivers and to stop the imposition of unlawful fees on petroleum product trucks.
The ongoing situation has heightened concerns among consumers, as fuel and cooking gas are essential commodities. If left unresolved, Nigerians could soon face difficulties in accessing petrol for their vehicles and generators, as well as cooking gas for domestic and commercial use. The crisis could also lead to increased prices, further straining the budgets of households and businesses alike.
South-West Fuel Stations May Shut Down
The South-West Zone of IPMAN has threatened to shut down operations across the region if the seized tankers are not released. Reports indicate that some filling stations in the region were already shut on Monday.
IPMAN Western Zone Chairman, Joseph Akanni, made this known 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, stating:
“An injury to one is an injury to all.”
Similarly, the National President of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Yusuf Othman, expressed dissatisfaction over alleged extortion by Lagos State officials and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).
Othman also questioned why the e-call-up system enforcement began early when it was originally slated to start on March 1, 2025. He stated that about 20 trucks were wrongfully seized ahead of the official enforcement date.
