- Tanker Drivers Halt Loading at Dangote Refinery, Lekki Deep Seaport Over E-Call Up Levy
- Thousands of cargo units are reportedly stranded
- Tanker drivers have chosen to abandon their trucks
Operations at Nigeria’s $19.5 billion Dangote Petrochemicals Refinery and the $1.5 billion Lekki Deep Seaport have come to a temporary standstill as truckers and petroleum tanker drivers suspend loading activities.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the NUPENG union are protesting a N12,500 per truck charge imposed under Lagos State’s new electronic call-up (e-call-up) system on the Lekki-Epe corridor.
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Thousands of cargo units are reportedly stranded as drivers withdraw their services and boycott the corridor, paralyzing logistics activities at two of Nigeria’s key infrastructure hubs.
The National President of NARTO, Yusuf Lawal Othman, confirmed the action, clarifying that it is a suspension of operations driven by concerns over the high cost of the new regulation, rather than a strike.
“We have not declared a strike action. We have only suspended loading operations at both Lekki Port and the Dangote Refinery because the N12,500 being charged per truck by the Lagos State Government is on the high side,” he said.
While reiterating support for the electronic call-up initiative, Othman emphasized the need to review the fees. “We support the electronic call-up system, but the amount can be lowered. N12,500 per truck is too much.
While the suspension is on, we are currently meeting with Lagos State Government officials to arrive at a reasonable amount,” he added.
Many tanker drivers have chosen to abandon their vehicles on the road rather than proceed to loading points, expressing outrage over the newly imposed fee.
Recall that Eko Hot Blog reported that the Lagos State Government initiated enforcement of the e-Call-Up system on Monday.
Sola Giwa, Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, highlighted that Lagosians spend an estimated four hours daily stuck in gridlock, incurring nearly N4 trillion in losses each year.
The e-Call-Up system aims to streamline truck movements and reduce roadside chaos, ultimately improving traffic flow in the area.
“All articulated vehicle drivers entering Lagos to load or offload goods must now register and schedule their movements through the e-Call-Up platform,” Giwa explained. “The digital system is designed to coordinate truck movements, reduce indiscriminate roadside parking, and minimise disruptions to other road users.”
Giwa emphasized the need for tanker operators to upload their Authority to Load (ATL) and pre-book designated parking slots prior to entry. He said this information, along with travel and cargo data, will enable efficient space allocation and reduce roadside chaos.
He also promised that truck parks supporting the scheme would be equipped with essential amenities such as restrooms, kitchens, and electricity.
Both parties are eager to find a resolution that avoids prolonged disruptions to these key national assets as stakeholders remain hopeful that a compromise can be reached as negotiations continues.
