A major face-off is brewing between fuel marketers, tanker drivers, and the Lagos State Government over the imminent rollout of a controversial truck scheduling policy that stakeholders warn could trigger fuel scarcity across the state.
Under the Lagos e-Call Up system, slated for enforcement from Monday, tanker drivers must pay ₦12,500 per truck to access designated loading points along the Lekki-Epe corridor — home to several major facilities including the Dangote refinery and the Lekki Deep Sea Port.
But the cost has sparked widespread pushback from key industry players, including the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and NARTO, who argue that the fee is excessive and that the policy was rushed without stakeholder consensus.
“We’re not against the system,” IPMAN Vice President Hammed Fashola told The Punch. “But ₦12,500 is too high. The government didn’t even consult us. We recommended ₦2,500. This shouldn’t be imposed without dialogue.”
Tanker drivers say they will suspend all product loading operations from Monday until the matter is resolved, citing security risks and previous confrontations with government taskforces.
Fashola also raised concerns about the condition of the truck parks designated for the call-up system. “The facilities are substandard. No toilets, no shelter, just empty grounds. These are not suitable for tankers carrying flammable products,” he said, adding that some private marketers already have internal parking systems and shouldn’t be forced to use public ones.
In response, Lagos officials accused the unions of exploiting drivers, alleging that they collect over ₦40,000 daily from each truck without offering any services in return.
“The unions are being mischievous,” said Olawale Musa, Permanent Secretary at the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation. “They’re fighting a system that aims to eliminate gridlock and improve sanitation. The ₦12,500 fee is not for government — it’s for the private operators who built and maintain the parks.”
Musa added that the parks were fitted with essential amenities and built to prevent the Lekki-Epe axis from descending into the chaotic state once witnessed in Apapa.
With both sides holding firm, the risk of widespread fuel shortages looms large — unless a compromise is quickly reached.
