Despite assurances from the Lagos State Government, findings by Shipping Position Daily have revealed that six months after the launch of the much-anticipated electronic call-up system for truck management at the Lekki-Epe Free Trade Zone, the system is yet to fully-commence, leaving stakeholders frustrated by persistent congestion and indiscriminate parking along the corridor.
Recall that the Lagos State Government has consistently emphasized its commitment to implementing an electronic call-up (e-call-up) system to manage truck movements along the Lekki-Epe corridor. However, recent observations and stakeholder-testimonies suggest a disparity between the government’s assurances and the actual situation on the ground.
Our correspondent gathered that as of now, the full implementation and enforcement of the e-call-up system appear to be lacking. Stakeholders who spoke with our correspondent last week reported ongoing challenges with truck congestion and indiscriminate parking along the Lekki-Epe corridor, indicating that the system is not functioning as effectively as intended.
Recall In May 2023, the Lagos State Government approved the deployment of the e-call-up system for the Lekki-Epe corridor. The then Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde highlighted the urgent need for a sustainable, technology-driven solution to synchronize truck movements accessing the Lekki Deep Seaport and other industries within the corridor. He emphasized that the system would help prevent severe congestion caused by articulated trucks.
Subsequently, in September 2024, the government announced the official launch of the e-call-up system, describing it as a sustainable and effective solution for managing truck movements within the Lekki-Epe corridor. The system was anticipated to streamline traffic flow, reduce waiting times, and enhance logistics within the Lekki Free Trade Zone.
Despite these assurances, stakeholders operating within the corridor have reported a different reality. Speaking with our correspondent last week, a top official at the Lekki Deep Sea Port who pleaded anonymity due to obvious reasons, noted that while the state government has initiated some processes for the management of the system, it remains largely inactive due to a lack of enforcement.
The top official explained that while data is being provided and uploaded to the e-call-up platform by the Port system, the absence of strict enforcement has left the operation ineffective.
While decrying indiscriminate parking by tankers and trucks particularly at night along the corridor, the Lekki Port official stressed the need for a more robust implementation strategy and active enforcement to achieve the desired outcomes of the e-call-up system.
In his words: “The Lagos state Government is still managing the e-call up system, but it has not started fully. All they just requested was, for us to feed the information to their system, which we have started doing. But we need the enforcement on the road, clearing of trucks and ensuring that all trucks are coming with an appointment. So that’s the situation.
“The data is for the e-call-up platform. Okay, so basically it has not really started. You need to come here one of these nights to come and see how horrible it is. The tankers and trucks are just parking indiscriminately along the road” the official lamented.
On his part, a Chieftain of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Mr Rilwan Bello criticized the delayed implementation of the electronic call-up (e-call-up) system at the Lekki-Epe corridor, blaming both the government and the company responsible for its management for a lack of seriousness.
Bello, who is also a truck owner, expressed frustration over the continued congestion and lack of enforcement, warning that failure to act proactively could lead to major disruptions. He questioned why authorities always react to crises instead of putting proactive measures in place, citing the successful implementation of the e-call-up system at the Apapa and Tin Can ports as an example.
The truck owner called for immediate enforcement of the e-call-up system to curb indiscriminate parking and prevent a repeat of the gridlock that previously crippled Apapa.
“From the past, what we have read was that they would start operations, but they are finding it difficult. To me, I feel the company in charge of the e-call-up, which is “My Call-Up”, is not really serious. If they were serious, they would have started operation by now, rather than waiting until trucks begin to block the entire expressway.
“In the Apapa corridor, they made sure no truck entered the port without a call-up, and it was a new dawn. But the Lekki Port corridor is different because of the presence of the Dangote Refinery. Tanker operations are not like dry cargo or maritime trucking. If tankers cannot lift products, it could lead to fuel scarcity,” Bello noted.
When contacted the Secretary General of Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Sani Bala Muhammed acknowledged that the e-call up app for Lekki-Epe corridor exists and allows users to book, select terminal destinations, and make payments. However, he expressed doubts about the commitment to its enforcement.
“I know that we have the e-call app. The app is there, where you can book and select your terminal destination, make other payments. But, you know, the commitment of the e-call-up is what I don’t know,” Bala stated.
All efforts to reach the Special Assistant to the Governor on Transportation; Mr Sola Giwa for further clarification on the delay were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages sent to him were not answered as of press time.
