Lagos may soon face widespread fuel scarcity as petroleum marketers and truck operators staged a major boycott of the Lekki-Epe corridor in protest against a new N12,500 e-call-up levy imposed by the Lagos State Government.
Advertisement
On Monday, members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) withdrew tanker and haulage services from the region.
They described the levy as “exploitative” and warned that it would increase fuel costs across the country.
Speaking at the protest, Dele Tajudeen, former IPMAN chairman in the Southwest, stated, “There is no gridlock in Lekki. This levy is not about traffic control—it’s about exploiting private businesses under the disguise of public regulation.”
Tajudeen raised transparency concerns, alleging that the money is funneled into private accounts instead of state coffers. “We already pay N7,000 at toll gates. Adding N12,500 means nearly N20,000 in levies before even loading fuel.”
Latest News
Truckers also highlighted infrastructure deficiencies, noting the absence of government trailer parks and increased maintenance costs, which are driving their operations to the brink.
Gbenga Olubasusi of NARTO Lekki Free Trade Zone stated, “A trailer tire now costs over N700,000. Trucks priced at N4.5m now cost N40m. We can’t absorb more charges.”
Despite describing the protest as a “strategic withdrawal” and not a strike, operators warned that if unresolved, fuel supply disruption could spread rapidly, worsening the economic strain on Nigerians.
Advertisement
As of press time, tanker activities remain suspended, and the Lagos State Government has not responded to the protest.
#FuelScarcity #LekkiEpe #LagosTraffic #IPMAN #NARTO #FuelCrisis #TruckProtest #DangoteRefinery
Tags:
business
Economic News
Fuel Crisis Nigeria
Lagos Protest News
Nigerian Government
Oil Distribution
Transportation Strike