Following Non-compliance, Lagos Shifts E-Call-Up Enforcement To August, Reduces Initial Levy

OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos

Following non-compliance to the E-call-Up system by some truck operators, the Lagos State Government held a meeting with the stakeholders to shift the enforcement date to August 1, while the cost was reduced to N10,000 per truck.The communique issued after the meeting, held at Dangote Oil Refining Limited, Alfred Rewane Road, Falomo, Ikoyi, stated that the meeting brought together key representatives from the Ministry of Transportation, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), National Union of Petrolceum & Natural Gas (NUPENG, and the National Association of Truck Owners (NARTO).Stating that all parties acknowledged the critical need for orderliness and seamless traffic management along the Lekki-Epe Corridor and Lekki Deep Sea Port, while preventing a recurrence of the Apapa experience, especially in the light of the concerns raised by the Lekki Residents Association (LERA) regarding the rising number of accidents caused by articulated trucks.The meeting endorsed the enforcement of the e-Call-up for the Lekki-Epe Corridor to commence on August 1, 2025 and agreed that the cost should be reviewed from the current NI2.500 to a new fee of N10,000 which was collectively accepted by all parties in attendance. There are currently seven (7) approved Truck Parks within the Lekki-Epe Corridor that arc equipped with basic infrastructure, including paved floors, CCTV, toilets, and drivers’ lodges.The cost associated with these facilities covers provisions for parking bays, technology, logistics, and enforcement, with no revenue accruing to the State Government, the communique revealed.All trucks are therefore required to begin onboarding before August 1, with extensive sensitization campaigns for union members and truckers must to be conducted by the Ministry.The uploading of Approved Truck Lists (ATL) would take place within this period; any truck without legitimate business in the Lekki Free Zone should remain outside the area.The unions are to actively participate in the implementation process and encourage their respective members to comply with the new regulations to minimize the need for enforcement actions.The State Ministry of Transportation, expresses hope that through shared collaboration and proactive engagement, it will be able to foster a more organized and efficient transport system that benefits not only the trucking community, but also the residents and businesses within the Lckki-Epe Corridor.The announcement by the Lagos State Government that the Trucks E-call-Up System on the Lekki Free Trade Zone corridor would commence on Monday 16, June 2025 to regulate process of loading fuel from the Dangote Refinery was defied by the truckers whose trucks remain straddled on the highway throughout the commencement date.DAILY INDEPENDENT paid a visit on Monday to ascertain if the truckers will comply to the process by parking all their trucks in the trailer park, while awaiting electronic call up to access the refinery for loading, but was surprised to find hundreds of these trucks still parked on the highway in defiance to the systemic arrangement.One of the truck drivers who simply said his name is Salihu, gleefully told DAILY INDEPENDENT that the E-call-Up System is not necessary given the fact that their trucks are not in anyway causing any traffic build up on the FTZ highway.He was however educated that there are many reasons why they should keep their trucks off the FTZ highway, including; risks to oncoming vehicles, the need to free the highway of haphazard parkings, to conform operations at the corridor to global best practices and to nip in the bud the reckless attitudes of drivers when left unchecked. Some days ago, Residents, under the Lekki Estates Residents and Stakeholders AssociationL ERSA, have warned against the plot to undermine the reintroduction of an electronic call-up system for tankers and articulated trucks along the Lekki-Epe Expressway area of Lagos State.LERSA in a statement jointly signed by its president, Sulyman Bello, and Chairman Communications Committee, Yomi Benson, stated that the initiative which began on Monday, would restore sanity to the corridor.The statement made available to DAILY INDEPENDENT added that it would regulate the movement of articulated vehicles, avoiding a repeat of the Apapa gridlock.LERSA said unregulated trucking activities had made life unbearable for residents of the Lekki Peninsula, with children spending up to seven hours in traffic, routine accidents, environmental pollution, and massive economic losses becoming part of daily life.Residents under the Lekki Estates Residents and Stakeholders Association have warned against the plot to undermine the reintroduction of an electronic call-up system for tankers and articulated trucks along the Lekki-Epe Expressway area of Lagos State.LERSA in a statement jointly signed by its president, Sulyman Bello, and Chairman Communications Committee, Yomi Benson, stated that the initiative which began on Monday, would restore sanity to the corridor.The statement obtained by PUNCH Metro on Monday added that it would regulate the movement of articulated vehicles, avoiding a repeat of the Apapa gridlock.LERSA said unregulated trucking activities had made life unbearable for residents of the Lekki Peninsula, with children spending up to seven hours in traffic, routine accidents, environmental pollution, and massive economic losses becoming part of daily life.The statement reads in part; “As representatives of residents and stakeholders of the Lekki Peninsula, it has to be emphasised that our children, wards, spouses and neighbours as well as other stakeholders are the ones at the terrible receiving end of the current havoc that unregulated operation of trucks and tankers wreaks. “For the avoidance of doubt, we are strongly opposed to any manifest or clandestine attempts to undermine, sabotage or otherwise frustrate this noble initiative, which is designed to keep residents of the Lekki Peninsula safe.”For the records, residents have had to contend with the increased trucking activities with a corresponding upsurge in road accidents, pollution of the environment, unwarranted damage to public infrastructures and incessant traffic gridlock running into several hours with attendant loss of revenue and productivity. Having children in school buses spend three hours in the morning and four hours on the homeward journey has become a reality that perpetually saddens parents and other residents of the Lekki Peninsula.”The association commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Commissioner for Transport, Seun Osiyemi, for the initiative.It also urged all stakeholders, especially those in the logistics and petroleum sectors, to support the rollout.It will be recalled that the Lagos State Government has announced the commencement of enforcement of an electronic call-up system for trucks operating along the Lekki-Epe corridor, effective Monday, June 16.Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Sunday by Bolanle Ogunlola, Deputy Director of Public Affairs at the ministry.Osiyemi said the decision followed the growing pressure on the corridor due to increased traffic from articulated trucks linked to major industrial operations in the area, including the Dangote Refinery, the Lekki Deep Sea Port, and other oil and gas facilities.“The enforcement of the e-call-up system becomes necessary to address the persistent congestion and to ensure a more efficient movement of goods and services in the corridor,” he said.He noted that although 360 to 400 trucks currently operate daily in the area, projections show that figure could rise to as high as 4,000 trucks daily with full operations at the Dangote Refinery.