Fuel queues has still not disappeared in Lagos state on Thursday, and Ibe Kachikwu, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, who had earlier promised that petrol would be available across the state, has obviously not lived up to his word, as most of the filling stations without queues were the ones where fuel was not available.

In some cases, motorists even lined up in front of stations without fuel, aimlessly hoping that the product would be available at any moment. Not even the threat of the state government to impound vehicles obstructing traffic scared those desperate to get the commodity.

A motorcyclist, Rafiu Adesiyan who said he had spent two hours there, told TheCable that the station, which had been selling fuel since 9am, suddenly shut its operation without providing any explanation, adding that he had been to other parts of Ikeja, but he was unable to get the product.

Checks showed that of the six filling stations between Ikeja and Ojota on Kudirat Abiola Way, only Total Filling station, after Oluyole bus stop, had fuel, and the queues stretched beyond the station, compounding the traffic gridlock on the ever-busy road.

Between Ojota and Ketu on Ikorodu road, only MRS filling station had fuel, as the remaining three stations were locked. The queue at the station was also long because people along Ogudu axis had no option but to get fuel at the station, since the NNPC station in the area was without the product.

A man, who simply identified himself as Charles, said he had been on a spot for several hours, lamenting that the queue was not moving.

He said despite spending several hours in search of fuel, he was still unsure if he would be able to achieve his purpose.

For, Kazeem Ibrahim, a cab operator, the situation is no doubt bad, yet he believes the government is capable of making amends. "I have lost the number of times that I slept at the station and that is no guarantee for getting fuel. Today is even better, because I have spent only three hours here, and this MRS station gives hope, unlike Total that is more interested in Jerrycan sale, while NNPC mostly sells once in a week

On Kachikwu’s promise, he said: "Honestly, it is discouraging that the minister couldn’t match his words with action. From what we are seeing now, the situation could continue throughout the month. This is not really good for this government."