Petroleum tanker drivers have taken to the streets to protest the N12,500 parking fee imposed on them by the Lagos State Government through the Electronic Call-up Systems Company. The protest, which took place on Monday, saw participation from other truckers, including those lifting petroleum products from the Dangote Refinery and transporting cargo from the Lekki Deep Seaport.
As a result of the protest, cargoes were stranded at the Lekki port, with importers unable to retrieve their goods and returning home disappointed.Just 24 hours earlier, truck drivers and fuel marketers in Lagos had warned they would halt loading petroleum products, citing the unaffordable N12,500 charge per truck for the E-Call Up system, particularly along the Lekki-Epe corridor.
In response, the Lagos State Government insisted on implementing the E-Call Up system, accusing unions of charging drivers as much as N41,000 without providing any services in return. The truckers, under the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), along with petroleum tanker drivers under the Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD) umbrella, staged the protest along the Lekki-Epe corridor over the enforcement of the fee.
NARTO National President, Yusuf Othman, clarified that they had not declared a strike but had temporarily suspended loading operations at Lekki Port and the Dangote Refinery. Othman said, “We have not declared a strike action. We have only suspended loading operations at both Lekki Port and the Dangote Refinery because the N12,500 being charged per truck by the Lagos State Government is on the high side. We support the electronic call-up system but the amount can be lowered. N12,500 per truck is too much. While the suspension of operation is on, we are currently meeting with the Lagos State Government officials to arrive at a reasonable amount.”At the time of filing this report, many truckers and petroleum tanker drivers had abandoned their vehicles and refused to load.
Source: https://punchng.com/
