Fuel scarcity averted as tanker drivers, Dangote, LASG agree ?10K e-call-up payment

The Lagos State Government (LASG), in collaboration with key transport unions and Dangote Industries Ltd., has successfully negotiated a new ?10,000 enforcement fee for the e-call-up system for trucks operating along the Lekki-Epe Corridor, averting a potential fuel scarcity crisis.

The agreement, finalised during a stakeholders’ meeting at Dangote Oil Refining Ltd., was announced in a joint communiqué obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday. Full enforcement of the system is set to commence on August 1, 2025.

The communiqué, signed by Seun Osiyemi, Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation; Williams Akporcha, President of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG); Alhaji Yusuf Othman, President of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO); and Alhaji Hammed Fasola, President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), marks a significant step toward resolving longstanding issues of gridlock and safety concerns along the Lekki-Epe Corridor.

The e-call-up system, designed to regulate the movement of articulated trucks, particularly fuel tankers, was introduced to prevent the chaotic gridlock that plagued Apapa in previous years.

The system, first implemented by the Nigerian Ports Authority in 2020 to address Apapa’s congestion, has been adapted for the Lekki-Epe Corridor to ensure smooth operations around the Lekki Deep Sea Port and adjoining industrial zones, including the Dangote Refinery.

The agreed ?10,000 fee, a reduction from the earlier proposed ?12,500, will cover expenses related to parking infrastructure, technology deployment, logistics, and enforcement mechanisms. Importantly, the communiqué clarified that no revenue from the fee will accrue to the Lagos State Government, ensuring transparency in its application.

A history of challenges

The agreement follows months of tension, as earlier reports highlighted resistance from tanker drivers.

In June 2025, tanker drivers under NUPENG threatened to boycott loading activities due to disputes over the proposed ?12,500 e-call-up fee, citing financial strain and lack of clarity on its implementation.

This boycott, reported by Technext on June 16, 2025, raised concerns about potential fuel scarcity, as the Lekki-Epe Corridor serves as a critical route for fuel distribution from the Dangote Refinery and other facilities.

Subsequent negotiations, as reported by Technext on June 23, 2025, saw progress with the initial agreement on a ?10,000 fee for petrol tankers. However, the latest stakeholders’ meeting has formalised this fee across all trucks operating in the corridor, and unions have pledged to support voluntary compliance to minimise the need for forceful enforcement.

To ensure the system’s success, all truck operators are required to onboard the e-call-up platform before the August 1 enforcement date – about two weeks from today. The Lagos State Ministry of Transportation has been directed to launch comprehensive sensitisation campaigns to educate union members and truck drivers on the system’s requirements and benefits.

Only trucks with legitimate business within the Lekki Free Zone, listed on a pre-uploaded Approved Truck List, will be granted entry into the corridor. Seven designated truck parks, equipped with paved floors, CCTV cameras, toilets, and driver lodges, have been established along the corridor to support orderly movement and reduce roadside parking.

The Lekki Residents Association, which had previously raised alarms over frequent truck-related accidents, has welcomed the initiative, noting that tighter regulation will enhance safety and reduce disruptions in the area.

Learning from Apapa’s past

The e-call-up system draws inspiration from the Nigerian Ports Authority’s 2020 initiative to tackle Apapa’s gridlock, which was caused by unregulated truck movements. The Apapa system significantly reduced congestion by controlling truck access to the port through a digital platform. The Lekki-Epe system aims to replicate this success, leveraging technology to preempt similar challenges in the rapidly developing Lekki industrial zone.