The decision of the Lagos State Government to commence full enforcement of the electronic call-up (e-call-up) system for tankers and other articulated trucks along the Lekki-Epe corridor beginning June 16, has drawn mixed reactions from critical stakeholders in the road transport and downstream petroleum logistics sectors.
The Lagos state government had, during a stakeholders’ meeting held on May 29 and presided over by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, announced that the e-call-up system will become mandatory for all trucks and tankers operating along the corridor from mid-June.
According to the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, the initiative is designed to manage traffic congestion and eliminate the gridlock that has plagued the corridor, especially as industrial activities increase in the area. Osiyemi noted that the initiative is purely for traffic control and not for revenue generation, stressing that all indiscriminately-parked trucks will be removed as enforcement begins.
However, the announcement has sparked cautious responses among stakeholders, particularly transport unions and drivers, who have expressed concerns over the readiness of the government and the fairness of the process.
Speaking with Shipping Position Daily, the President of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Alhaji Yusuf Othman, disclosed that the association was still studying the policy and had yet to take a final position.
“We are still studying the situation. We have a meeting and we will come out with our position,” Othman said. “I don’t want to say anything definitive because we are still reviewing the policy document and stakeholders’ input. Let’s just say the government has given a go-ahead. Our own is to comply. But we will come out with our official position very soon.”
Truck drivers operating along the corridor have also voiced their reservations, particularly on the lack of visible infrastructure to support the e-call up system. One of the drivers, Mr. Chinedu Eze, said while the idea of a call-up system is not bad, the government has not provided essential facilities such as waiting bays and holding areas to make it effective.
“We are not against the e-call-up, but there has to be proper infrastructure on ground. Where will the trucks park, while waiting for clearance? Eze asked.
Another driver, Musa said drivers are often at the receiving end of haphazard implementations, especially when enforcement officers are not well informed about systemic lapses. “Sometimes they just launch these policies without consulting those of us on the road. If the platform works, no problem. But when it fails, enforcement officers like LASTMA still come and arrest us. That’s not fair,” he said.
A senior member of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) arm of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), who preferred not to be named, also expressed doubt over the success of the initiative unless, all key stakeholders are carried along. He warned that the government must not underestimate the complexity of managing tanker and truck logistics in such a strategic corridor.
“We hope this won’t be another ‘Apapa’ situation. Our members suffer daily from extortion by touts and even officials. If they want this to work, they must involve all unions from the start,” he stated.
The Lekki-Epe corridor, which is home to the Dangote Refinery, the Lekki Free Trade Zone, numerous tank farms, and the Lekki Deep Seaport, has witnessed increasing traffic pressure in recent months. Many logistics experts believe a regulated truck movement system is long overdue. However, they insist that success depends on fair implementation, stakeholder engagement, and the availability of supporting infrastructure.
With enforcement expected to commence in less than two weeks, many stakeholders say it remains unclear whether the government has addressed the underlying logistical and technological issues that have hampered similar systems in the past. Efforts to reach the Ministry of Transportation for details on registration modalities and penalties for non-compliance were still ongoing at the time of filing this report.
