Lagos Issues Final Ultimatum to NUPENG Over E-Call-Up Compliance
In a decisive move to tackle the persistent traffic chaos along the vital Lekki-Epe corridor, the Lagos State Government has drawn a line in the sand. The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has been given until November 10 to fully comply with the state’s electronic call-up (e-call-up) system for its fuel tankers and trucks. Failure to adhere to the digital booking guidelines will trigger immediate and stringent enforcement measures, officials have warned.
A Clash of Order and Habit on a Critical Artery
The announcement, delivered by the State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, marks the culmination of weeks of friction. The government had previously summoned NUPENG officials to address what it describes as a blatant disregard for the established online booking system. Instead of using the digital platform, many truck drivers have reverted to old habits: collecting cash payments directly on the roads and parking their massive vehicles indiscriminately along the expressway.
The result? A logistical nightmare. The once free-flowing Lekki-Epe corridor, a key economic artery serving the burgeoning Lekki Free Trade Zone and the massive Dangote Refinery, has been transformed into a parking lot for petrol tankers. This disorganized operation has caused severe traffic congestion, frustrating commuters, disrupting business logistics, and undermining the very efficiency the e-call-up system was designed to create.
“The disorganized operations have caused significant traffic congestion along the Lekki-Epe corridor and disrupted the efficiency of our transport system,” Commissioner Osiyemi stated in an official communiqué. He emphasized that the mandatory process—whereby trucks must undergo validation and clearance before entering one of the designated holding parks—has been largely ignored by NUPENG members, creating a bottleneck that affects everyone.
The E-Call-Up System: A Digital Solution to a Physical Gridlock
So, what exactly is this system that has become a point of contention? The e-call-up platform is a digital logistics solution conceived by the Lagos State Government to bring order to the chaotic movement of heavy-duty trucks. Its primary goal is to regulate the flow of vehicles, preventing the gridlock caused by hundreds of trucks vying for space and parking haphazardly along the busy route.
A Rocky Road to Implementation
The journey of the e-call-up system has been anything but smooth. Initially slated for launch on August 1, 2024, its rollout was postponed, finally going live on September 23, 2024. The system faced further turbulence when it was temporarily suspended in March 2025, only to be resumed later after reviews and adjustments. This stop-start history has perhaps contributed to the compliance challenges faced today.
Under the program’s rules, trucks are not permitted to loiter on the expressway. Instead, they must proceed to one of several designated holding parks and await electronic clearance before accessing the corridor. The official parks include:
- Hog Marketing Ltd. in Okorisan, Epe
- Nilmage Two4Seven in Poka, Epe
- Goldspeed Freight Agency Ltd., opposite the Dangote Refinery
- Diamond Star Ports and Terminal Ltd. in Abule Panu
- Tal Concept Ltd. at HFP Brick Industry along the Lekki-Epe Expressway
Financial Hurdles and Negotiated Agreements
The path to implementation was also paved with financial negotiations. In July 2024, the Lagos State Government and major transport unions, after intense discussions, agreed on a revised enforcement fee of N10,000 per truck. This agreement came about after key industry players, including the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, flatly rejected an initially proposed levy of N12,500.
This negotiated fee was seen as a compromise to ensure the system’s sustainability while not overburdening transporters. Yet, despite this agreement and the clear operational framework, compliance from NUPENG has been conspicuously absent, forcing the government’s hand.
The Stakes of the November 10 Deadline
The November 10 deadline is more than just a date on a calendar; it is a test of governance, union discipline, and the political will to modernize a critical sector of Lagos’s infrastructure. For the state government, it is a matter of enforcing order and demonstrating that its digital initiatives are not mere suggestions but mandatory protocols for operating within the state.
For NUPENG, the deadline represents a significant operational shift. The union, which represents a vast number of petroleum tanker drivers, must now rapidly engage its members to ensure a seamless transition to the digital platform. According to the NAN report, NUPENG officials have promised to do just that, pledging to engage their members to ensure compliance and address other concerns raised during their meeting with the government.
But what happens if the deadline passes without meaningful compliance? The government has been clear, though not specific: “enforcement measures” will be initiated. This could range from fines and penalties for non-compliant trucks to more drastic measures like impounding vehicles that operate outside the system, a move that would undoubtedly escalate tensions.
The Bigger Picture: Lagos’s Quest for a Modern Metropolis
This standoff is a microcosm of the larger challenges facing Lagos as it strives to become a modern, efficient megacity. The Lekki-Epe corridor is not just any road; it is the gateway to one of the most significant industrial and economic zones in West Africa. The uninterrupted flow of traffic is essential for the businesses operating within the Lekki Free Trade Zone and for the monumental Dangote Refinery to function at its intended capacity.
The success or failure of the e-call-up system on this corridor will likely set a precedent for other parts of the city and for other sectors. Can a digital system triumph over deeply entrenched informal practices? The answer to that question will begin to unfold on November 11.
As the deadline looms, all eyes are on NUPENG and the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation. The coming days will determine whether cooperation or confrontation will define the future of logistics on this crucial stretch of road, a outcome with profound implications for the economic vitality of Nigeria’s commercial capital.
Source: nairametrics.com