Tanker Drivers Suspend Operations Over Controversial Lekki-Epe E-Call-Up Charges


Fuel distribution along the Lekki-Epe corridor is facing fresh disruptions as the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has announced the suspension of fuel loading operations. The move is in protest against the Lagos State Government’s insistence on a ₦12,500 E-Call-Up fee per truck—a charge the association has described as “economically insensitive.”

In a formal internal memo jointly signed by the National President of PETROAN, Billy Gillis-Harry, and the National Secretary, Adedibu Aderibigbe, the association expressed strong dissatisfaction with the government’s position. PETROAN maintained that the proposed charge is far above the ₦2,500 rate earlier recommended by stakeholders after evaluating the current economic landscape and the operating realities of the downstream sector.

“The ₦2,500 charge is more realistic in light of prevailing economic challenges,” the statement noted, adding that PETROAN had made multiple efforts to engage the Lagos State Government and other key authorities for a compromise but no consensus had been reached.

As a result, the association has directed its members to suspend loading and related operations along the Lekki-Epe axis until a “mutually agreeable resolution” is achieved. The directive is expected to affect petroleum logistics significantly, given the strategic importance of the corridor, which services high-demand areas and is home to major industrial and energy infrastructure including the Dangote Refinery and the Lekki Deep Sea Port.

“All zonal and state chairmen are hereby instructed to enforce this directive without exception,” PETROAN stated. “We urge all members to remain united during this period. Our demand is for a fair and sustainable outcome that supports not only industry operators but also the Nigerian public.”

The association warned that implementing high operational fees without stakeholder alignment would not only strain the supply chain but could also result in higher fuel prices for end users.

The memo was circulated to several relevant parties, including the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), as well as the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services (DSS).

This development comes amid ongoing friction between the Lagos State Government and key transport and logistics unions over the implementation of the E-Call-Up system designed to streamline truck movement and reduce traffic congestion along the Lekki-Epe corridor. While government officials have defended the new fee structure as necessary to maintain order and infrastructure, stakeholders argue that the current rate is prohibitive and could exacerbate operational bottlenecks.

For now, industry players and commuters alike await the outcome of further consultations. Many are hoping that an amicable solution will be reached soon to avoid a full-blown fuel supply crisis in Lagos and its environs.


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