The Lagos State Government has affirmed that it would begin enforcement of its electronic Call-Up (e-Call-Up) system for tankers and other articulated vehicles operating on the Lekki-Epe Corridor with effect from Monday June 16.
The government said that the enforcement is in an effort to enhance logistics coordination and reduce traffic congestion to save about N4 Trillion for the state residents.
This comes even as tanker owners have kicked against the N12,500 administrative fees to be charged for the service.
But, the Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Transportation, Mr Sola Giwa, disclosed in a statement over the weekend, that the state was not looking back on implementation of the call up system that will affect all articulated vehicles coming to load dry and wet cargoes in tge Lekki Free Trade zone.
The statement was signed by Mrs Bolanle Ogunlola, Deputy Director Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation.
According to Giwa, Lagos residents lose an average of four hours daily to traffic congestion, resulting in an estimated four trillion naira loss annually.
Giwa attributed much of the gridlock to unregulated parking, disorderly loading and unloading activities on major logistics routes.
He added that enforcement of the e-Call-Up system was also aimed at improving road safety.
”All articulated vehicle drivers entering Lagos to load or offload goods must now register and schedule their movements through the e-Call-Up platform.
”The digital system is designed to coordinate truck movements, reduce indiscriminate roadside parking, and minimise disruptions to other road users.
“Under the new system, tanker operators will be required to upload their Authority to Load (ATL) and pre-book assigned parking slots before arriving in Lagos.
“The e-Call-Up platform will also collect vital travel and cargo information, enabling efficient allocation of designated parking spaces,” Giwa said.
The official said that the facilities would be equipped with basic amenities such as restrooms, kitchens and electricity to ensure the comfort and safety of drivers.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that the National President of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO); Alhaji Yusuf Lawal Othman, had insisted that the association would not participate in the electronic call up system, unless certain conditions were met.
He stated that the N12,500 to be charged was high and that his members would resist it.
Othman said the association was still in talks with the Lagos State Government to allow its members to pay N2,500 per truck instead of N12,500.
“For now, we are still negotiating with the Lagos State Government. The N12,500 is too high. We recommended N2,500 from the beginning. Let’s see how it goes and if we can reach an amicable resolution. But if the government does not agree, our boys will not go and load tomorrow,” Othman said.
Reacting, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Olawale Musa, said the N12,500 was not going into government coffers.
According to Musa, the money was for the use of the facility built for the drivers in the Lekki axis to avert gridlocks and environmental pollution.
He added that the facility was built by a private investor and said the union and the drivers should try to obey rules and regulations to prevent the Lekki-Epe corridor from turning into the old Apapa road.
Similarly, Giwa insisted that there was no going back on the decision and that the state government had approved seven dedicated truck parks on the Lekki-Epe axis to support implementation of the policy.
He said that the policy was the outcome of over two years of extensive stakeholder engagement.
The special adviser said that it formed a critical part of the state’s broader transportation reform agenda aimed at transforming Lagos into a smart, resilient and livable city
—— IPMAN South-West Directs Members To Boycott Lekki-Epe Corridor From Monday-
The Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), South-West Zone, has directed its members to boycott the Lekki-Epe corridor from Monday to avoid embarrassment.
The chairman of the zone, Chief Oyewole Akanni, directed in a statement made available in Ibadan on Sunday.
According to the chairman, the national office had earlier directed its members not to send trucks to load petroleum products on the Lekki-Epe corridor from Monday.
Akanni stated that this was due to an anticipated intimidation and harassment that might follow the implementation of the E-Call-up policy by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation.
He noted that stakeholders’ engagement to resolve issues in the best interests of its members had yet to yield any results.
Akanni noted the state actor was bent on going ahead with the N12,500 E-Call-up system on its own terms without allowing good reasoning as suggested by IPMAN and NARTO, among others.
“In view of the aforementioned, and other germane concerns, the association advise all independent marketers to withdraw their depot representatives and truck drivers from the Lekki-Epe corridor from Monday, June 16, 2025, until otherwise advised.
“Please, be assured and guided that this and other actions that might follow are in the interests of our members and their businesses,” the statement read.
