The Lagos State Government has announced that it will commence full enforcement of the long-awaited E-Call Up system on the Lekki-Epe Corridor starting June 16, 2025, in a renewed effort to address the growing traffic congestion plaguing the area due to industrial expansion and port-related activities.
The announcement was made by the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, at a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held on Thursday, May 29, 2025, aimed at tackling transportation challenges resulting from increased truck and tanker movement into the rapidly developing Lekki Free Zone.
Dr. Hamzat stated that the E-Call Up system is a strategic traffic management tool specifically designed to control the movement of articulated vehicles—including petroleum tankers and container trucks—accessing the Lekki-Epe axis. The system, similar to what was implemented in Apapa, will ensure scheduled and orderly entry of trucks into industrial zones, particularly near the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Dangote Refinery, and surrounding industrial estates.
“The E-Call Up is not just a control mechanism but a fundamental infrastructure to sustain the economic viability of the Lekki corridor,” the Deputy Governor said. “We must avoid the mistakes made in Apapa, and this initiative is key to promoting sanity, logistics efficiency, and protecting billions of naira worth of road infrastructure.”
Also speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, affirmed the state’s determination to ensure the system is not only implemented but strictly enforced. He disclosed that the delay in enforcement was due to the need for broader stakeholder engagement and resolution of implementation challenges experienced during previous trial phases.
Mr. Osiyemi issued a directive for the immediate removal of all articulated vehicles currently parked along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, warning operators to desist from indiscriminate parking and unregulated movement, which have often paralyzed traffic and compromised safety.
“The E-Call Up is not a revenue-generating initiative. It is about restoring order, ensuring public safety, and protecting public infrastructure,” he said. “Every truck must now be accounted for and scheduled through the call-up platform before accessing the corridor.”
The meeting, which held against the backdrop of mounting public complaints and increasing economic disruption due to tanker and truck-induced gridlock, brought together major players from the oil and maritime logistics value chain.
Stakeholders present included representatives of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), Lekki Worldwide Investment Company (LWIC), Lekki Free Zone (LFZ), Lekki Deep Sea Port, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), NNPC Retail, and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The stakeholders unanimously acknowledged the urgent need for a coordinated traffic control system, with many pledging their support for the full implementation of the E-Call Up scheme.
The state government noted that from June 16, enforcement will be strict, and violators—whether individual truckers or corporate fleet operators—will face penalties, including impoundment and possible blacklisting from future corridor access.
The Lekki-Epe corridor, which is currently home to some of Nigeria’s most significant infrastructure investments, has over the past two years suffered recurring traffic bottlenecks largely caused by unregulated truck movement. With the imminent full commencement of operations at the Lekki Port and Dangote Refinery, the pressure on the corridor is expected to intensify—hence the urgency for a preventive traffic control solution.
The Lagos State Government reaffirmed that it would continue to collaborate with all involved parties while also investing in supporting infrastructure such as holding bays, surveillance, and intelligent transport systems to ensure the long-term success of the initiative.
