A potential fuel scarcity is looming across the South-West region following a directive by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to suspend fuel distribution activities along the Lekki-Epe corridor in Lagos.
The directive, effective Monday, comes in response to the Lagos State Government’s enforcement of a ₦12,500 e-call-up levy on tankers operating in the area. The new charge—introduced as part of a public-private partnership—has sparked backlash from IPMAN and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), who claim the levy is unjustified and lacking proper stakeholder engagement.
The Lekki-Epe corridor is home to major infrastructure, including the Dangote Refinery and Lekki Deep Sea Port, making it a strategic hub for petroleum distribution in Lagos and beyond. With trucks and tankers now withdrawn from this route, concerns are rising over possible supply disruptions across the region.
During a peaceful protest, truck owners and marketers described the policy as burdensome and unsustainable. IPMAN’s former South-West chairman, Dele Tajudeen, stated that attempts to negotiate with the state government were unsuccessful. “There is no traffic congestion to justify this levy. We already pay ₦7,000 at the toll—now ₦12,500 more? And this money isn’t going to the government; it’s going to a private partner,” he said.
Truckers say the cost burden from the new fee—on top of surging diesel prices and rising costs of spare parts—will be passed on to consumers, likely leading to increased fuel prices. They also cited the lack of basic infrastructure such as trailer parks or rest stops as a major grievance.
Gbenga Olubasusi, NARTO chairman at the Lekki Free Trade Zone, pointed out that trailer tyres now cost over ₦700,000, and truck prices have nearly tenfolded in recent years. “We are already stretched thin. Adding more charges will break the supply chain,” he warned.
NARTO’s zonal secretary in the South-West, Comrade Wale Oladeinde, emphasized that this was not a strike but a “strategic withdrawal” of services under unfair conditions. “The trucks are privately owned. We cannot be compelled to operate under such policies.”
Industry leaders have urged the Lagos State government to suspend the toll and initiate transparent consultations with all stakeholders. While reaffirming their openness to dialogue, IPMAN and NARTO insist that any regulatory measures must be implemented with fairness and adequate infrastructure.
“If the government insists on pushing this through without engagement, fuel supply in Lagos and the entire South-West may be significantly disrupted,” warned Kayode Odunowo, Lagos State chairman of NARTO.
As tensions build, the state government has yet to issue an official response.
