•Thousands of cargoes stranded
By Steve Agbota
Operations at the $19.5 billion Dangote Petrochemicals Refinery and the $1.5 billion Lekki Deep Seaport have been temporarily halted following a suspension of loading activities by truckers and petroleum tanker drivers. The move, led by the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the NUPENG union, is in protest of a N12,500 per truck charge imposed under Lagos State’s new electronic call-up (e-call-up) system on the Lekki-Epe corridor.
Thousands of cargoes are reportedly stranded as truck drivers withdraw their services and boycott the corridor, paralyzing logistics activities at two of Nigeria’s most strategic infrastructure hubs.
Confirming the action, National President of NARTO, Yusuf Lawal Othman, said the move is not a strike but a suspension of operations driven by concerns over the high cost of the new regulation.
“We have not declared a strike action. We have only suspended loading operations at both Lekki Port and the Dangote Refinery because the N12,500 being charged per truck by the Lagos State Government is on the high side,” he said.
While reiterating support for the electronic call-up initiative, Othman emphasized the need to review the fees. “We support the electronic call-up system, but the amount can be lowered. N12,500 per truck is too much.
While the suspension is on, we are currently meeting with Lagos State Government officials to arrive at a reasonable amount,” he added.
Many truck and tanker operators have since abandoned their vehicles on the road, declining to proceed to loading points in protest against the new fee.
The Lagos State Government began enforcement of the e-Call-Up system for articulated vehicles on Monday, citing the need to improve traffic flow along the Lekki-Epe corridor and reduce associated economic losses.
In a statement, Mr. Sola Giwa, Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, noted that Lagosians lose an estimated four hours daily to gridlock, costing the state nearly N4 trillion annually. The new system, he said, was introduced to enhance coordination of truck movements and eliminate roadside chaos.
“All articulated vehicle drivers entering Lagos to load or offload goods must now register and schedule their movements through the e-Call-Up platform,” Giwa explained. “The digital system is designed to coordinate truck movements, reduce indiscriminate roadside parking, and minimise disruptions to other road users.”
Giwa added that tanker operators must upload their Authority to Load (ATL) and pre-book designated parking slots prior to entry. The system will also capture travel and cargo data to enable efficient space allocation.
He further assured that the truck parks supporting the scheme would be fitted with amenities such as restrooms, kitchens, and electricity to guarantee driver welfare and road safety.
Negotiations between the truckers and Lagos State Government officials are ongoing as stakeholders seek a resolution to avoid prolonged disruption of operations at key national assets.