Tanker drivers in Lagos State have announced plans to suspend the loading of petroleum products starting Monday, citing their inability to afford the N12,500 fee per truck imposed under the state’s new Electronic Call-Up (E-Call Up) system along the Lekki-Epe corridor.
The Lagos State Government, through Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, recently introduced the E-Call Up system to regulate the movement of articulated vehicles and tankers in the area. According to Hamzat, the initiative is aimed at ensuring orderly traffic flow and preventing the kind of crippling gridlock that once plagued the Apapa axis.
However, the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) has rejected the fee, proposing instead to pay N2,500 per truck. Speaking to our correspondent on Sunday, NARTO President Yusuf Othman said the association is still in negotiations with the Lagos State Government to arrive at a more affordable rate.
Othman acknowledged that the E-Call Up facility was developed by a private investor but urged members to comply with traffic regulations to avoid a repeat of the Apapa experience on the Lekki-Epe corridor. He emphasized the union’s willingness to cooperate with the government while advocating for a fee structure that reflects the harsh economic realities facing its members.