The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday, called on President
Muhammadu Buhari to proffer solution to the lingering fuel scarcity and
its attendant hardship on citizens.
The call followed a motion raised by the Majority Leader of the House, Mr
Sanai Agunbiade and seconded by Mr Segun Olulade, the Chairman, House
Committee on Health, under matter of public urgent importance.
Agunbiade said a lot of workers were lamenting over gridlock caused by
fuel queues.
“In Lagos, every minute counts. Many workers now get queries for coming
late to work. People now store petrol at homes.
“Prices of goods and commodities are high, and fares have increased. The
President should address the issue of fuel scarcity and deal with everyone
involved,” he said.
Olulade, on his part, said: “A lot of people are facing serious hardship;
we have hospitals that cannot provide electricity in case of emergency
because of scarcity. The President should address the issue quickly.”
Contributing, Mr Tunde Braimoh, the Chairman, House Committee on
Information, Strategy and Security, described the situation as
‘’embarrassing’’, saying that the President has all it takes to salvage
the situation.
Also, Mr Yinka Ogundimu, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance, said
all agencies in Lagos were overstretched and a lot of time was wasted
queuing for fuel.
“We should call on the President to come up with immediate solution,” he
said.
The Speaker of the House, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, said it was not necessary to
start apportioning blames or identifying scapegoats, but the Federal
Government should find a lasting solution to the problem.
“I saw people carrying kegs all over the city and I understand that some
of them sleep at filling stations.
“The roads from my house were deserted as I was coming to the office and
this is a bad signal.
“Mr President should look for a solution; we should not look at the past
or blame the Petroleum Minister for what he said recently since he has
apologised. We must take action now.
“Whatever it is, our people should get fuel to move around for their
businesses. We must avoid whatever can lead to angry mobs. It is becoming
so unbearable and it must not be allowed,” he said.
The Speaker directed the Clerk of the House, Mr Ganiu Abiru, to write a
letter to the President to find a lasting solution to the problem and make
fuel available in Lagos State.
The House said that the President should address the people on the
situation and appealed to residents to be calm until a solution was found
to the problem.
It also called on Buhari to direct all the necessary Ministries,
Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that have direct connections with the
distribution of fuel to help the masses by curbing the hardship.
The lawmakers said that special attention should be given to Lagos State
as the economic nerve centre of the nation as many workers now sleep at
filling stations.
The House also called on Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode to direct the necessary
agencies in the state to effectively control gridlock occasioned by
scarcity.
It noted that the indiscriminate queuing at filling stations had affected
traffic flow and many people were getting to their offices late. (NAN)