In a show of defiance against the Lagos State Government’s implementation of the electronic call-up system, investigations by Shipping Position Daily have revealed that tanker drivers operating along the Lekki-Epe corridor have abandoned seven fully-equipped private truck parks and have resumed indiscriminate parking on major roads.
This is even as they cited “expensive” fees as their reason for avoiding designated private truck parks and the electronic call-up (e-call up) system. This non-compliance has led to renewed traffic congestion, safety risks, and mounting frustration from both residents and officials within the Lekki Free Trade Zone and inhabitants of surrounding communities.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that last week, the Lagos State Government re-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.
Our correspondent who visited the $19.5bn Dangote Petrochemicals Refinery and the $1.5bn Lekki Deep Seaport mid last week, observed the suspension of loading operations by truckers under the aegis of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and petroleum tankers under the aegis of Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD), over the enforcement of the N12,500 per truck electronic call-up system by the Lagos State Government.
Our correspondent also witnessed the heavy presence of personnel of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) accompanied by armed Police Men to deter reprisal attacks from tanker drivers who have decided to protest the enforcement of the e-call up, creating several resistance to the towing of indiscriminately-parked tanker trucks on the Lekki Deep Sea port access road.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) through its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Chinedu Ukadike, had urged the Lagos State government to reduce the electronic call-up parking fee from ₦12,500 to ₦2,500. Ukadike said stakeholders at a recent meeting unanimously agreed the parking fee should return to ₦2,500, calling the current rate excessive.
However, Shipping Position Daily gathered that the Lagos State Government, in collaboration with private operators, has provided seven designated truck parks to support the regulation of tanker movements along the Lekki-Epe corridor.
These parks include: Goldspeed Park, located opposite the Dangote Refinery in Ibeju-Lekki; Hog Amazon Park in Epe; Nilmage 247 Park on Poka Road, Epe; Jancy Truck Park beside the Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Secretariat; Naval Yard Park; Tal Concept Park; and Diamondstar Park in Ibeju-Lekki.
Each of these parks is equipped with essential infrastructure designed to ensure order and convenience. Facilities sighted by our correspondent include spacious parking areas, entry and exit barriers, administrative offices, driver lodges, street lighting, fire safety systems, cafeterias, as well as clean toilets and bathrooms. However, in spite of these provisions, many tanker drivers continue to ignore the parks and instead park haphazardly along road shoulders—often without valid e-call authorization or confirmed loading appointment.
Speaking with our correspondent last week at the Lekki-Epe corridor, one of the operators of the E-Call system at Lekki, Michael Idike described the situation as a deliberate act of sabotage led by the leadership of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO). According to him, the drivers had initially demanded the construction of standard parks before they would vacate the roads. These parks were eventually built by private investors, some of whom took out bank loans to develop the facilities.
Idike raised concerns about the sanitary and security implications of the roadside parking. “Where are they using the toilet? Where do they sleep? Some trucks come all the way from Enugu without a valid loading ticket. Why are they even here?”
He warned that the continued disobedience is threatening public order. “Yesterday (ast Tuesday) alone, we counted over 250 trucks lined up on the road. When officials arrived to inspect, some drivers threatened to pour petrol on the road and burn LASTMA and Police officers. That is no longer a union—it is becoming something dangerous.”Idike said.
He noted that the system, introduced to streamline tanker movements into sensitive facilities like Dangote Refinery, Pinnacle Oil, and Lekki Port, is designed to schedule truck movement in controlled batches—usually 50 to 100 at a time—to prevent congestion. He further clarified that the e-call up system fee covers not just the park access, but also truck scheduling, RFID cards, and operational support. “They claim the cost is too high, but it’s just 28 kobo per litre—₦28 if you buy 100 litres. Meanwhile, their union charges them as much as ₦49,000 in dues.”
Idike however called on the Lagos State Government to take immediate action to clear the Lekki-Epe corridor and enforce full compliance with the call-up system. “Once full enforcement kicks in, all the roadside nuisances will be removed. No one will collect money illegally. It’s time to restore sanity.”
On his part, one of the tanker drivers who identified himself as Olaoluwa Kareem revealed that many tanker drivers have opted to park along the roadside, especially around the Central Mosque axis—rather than use the designated private parks, due to the multiple layers of fees imposed on them.
Kareem further highlighted the financial toll of operating along the Lekki-Ijebu Ode axis, where task forces and extortion allegedly add to the hardship. According to him, some unions also collect various dues, ranging from ₦2,000 to ₦6,000 at the designated parks and entrance to the refinery, further burdening the already stressed tanker operators.
“At the general truck park, we pay ₦2,000 just to exit. Before we can even load at the refinery gate, we are asked to pay another ₦4,000. In some of the private parks created by Lekki Port, we pay ₦2,500 daily. But now, they want to increase it to ₦12,000. That’s why most drivers are avoiding the parks.”
“From here to Ijebu Ode, ₦20,000 is not even enough. Some checkpoints collect as high as ₦5,000. That’s what the union is fighting against. They are collecting ₦4,000 here, ₦2,000 there, and you’re still paying ₦2,000 at the park. It’s too much. That’s why we just stay by the roadside.” Kareem said.
The tanker driver also pointed fingers at container trucks for causing most of the traffic gridlock around the Dangote Refinery and Lekki port axis.
