By Oke Peter
Tanker drivers in Lagos have announced plans to suspend the loading of petroleum products starting Monday, citing high charges associated with the E-Call-Up system along the Lekki-Epe Corridor. The drivers say the required N12,500 fee per truck is unaffordable.
The Lagos State Government introduced the E-Call-Up system to streamline the movement of tankers and articulated vehicles along the corridor, aiming to reduce congestion similar to what was previously seen in Apapa. Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat recently emphasized that the system is crucial for maintaining smooth traffic flow.
Despite this, the drivers—under the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO)—insist they can only afford to pay N2,500 per truck.
In a conversation with our correspondent on Sunday, NARTO President Yusuf Othman revealed that the association is in ongoing discussions with the Lagos State Government, hoping to reach a compromise.
“We’re still negotiating. The N12,500 charge is too much. From the beginning, we proposed N2,500 per truck. We’ll see if we can come to a fair agreement. But if there’s no resolution, our members won’t load fuel tomorrow,” Othman stated.
Responding to the concerns, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Olawale Musa, clarified that the N12,500 fee is not paid to the government but covers the use of a facility constructed for tanker drivers in the Lekki area.
Musa explained that the infrastructure was developed by a private investor to prevent traffic congestion and environmental degradation and urged the drivers and their union to adhere to the rules to avoid repeating the problems that once plagued the Apapa route.
