Tanker drivers have resumed fuel loading following the resolution of their crisis with the Lagos State Government, The PUNCH reports.
On Wednesday and Thursday, many fuel tankers were seen on the road conveying petroleum products to filling stations within and outside Lagos.
The PUNCH recalls that many filling stations ran out of stock Monday due to the tanker drivers’ refusal to lift petroleum products from the Dangote refinery and the depots since Saturday.
The drivers have accused the Lagos State Government and its task force of harassment, assault, extortion, and seizure of their trucks.
While the truck drivers and marketers alleged that about 30 trucks were taken away after the task force invaded their park at night along the Lekki Free Trade Zone where they had gone to lift products on Saturday, the government said its officials were attacked while trying to enforce the e-call-up system, saying only 11 trucks were seized and later released.
In an interview with our correspondent, the National President of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, Yusuf Othman, confirmed that the issues were being resolved amicably.
Othman disclosed that the seized trucks have been released alongside those arrested during the invasion.
“Yes, the information available is that they (the government officials) have released the vehicles; they have also released the drivers. So, I think the work is about to commence,” he stated.
Othman said some amicable resolutions have been reached.
“I am aware that there are some amicable resolutions reached,” he told The PUNCH.
On the claims by the Lagos State Government that only 11 trucks were seized by its officials, Othman reacted, “Forget about them. Even if it is one, why should they arrest? We should be working harmoniously, we have to work together. There has to be an enabling environment for us all to work together,” the NARTO leader stated.
He warned the government not to strangulate tanker drivers in the guise of revenue generation.
He maintained that tanker drivers are more important to the economy as no refinery or depot will function in Nigeria without trucks lifting the fuel for distribution.
“You can’t just be strangulating us and you want us to operate just in the guise of looking for money. Everybody is looking for money. By the time they scare all the trucks away, who will do the work? If you have a depot in Lagos, naturally trucks must be there to take away the content of the depot. If you have a refinery and you are saying trucks should not go there, then how will people recoup their investments? And this is a country where people say they are looking for investors. Is this the way to look for investors?” he queried.
Similarly, the National Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Hammed Fashola, confirmed the release of the trucks and those arrested.
Meanwhile, our correspondent observed that the filling stations that were shut have reopened for business.
Earlier, marketers threatened to shut down their stations if the tankers were not released.
Telecommunication operators cried out on Sunday that the refusal of tanker drivers to supply diesel would affect their operations.
Similarly, the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers warned that the imposition of illegal levies on petroleum product trucks by agencies of the Lagos State Government could trigger a nationwide scarcity of cooking gas.
But the Lagos State Government stressed in a statement by the Deputy Director of Public Affairs in the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Bolanle Ogunlola, that it was enforcing the e-call-up system when its members its officials were attacked.
According to the statement, the government said the enforcement of the e-call-up system commenced on January 24, 2025, with 10 trucks apprehended but were later released as an act of goodwill by the state government with assurance from the stakeholders to adjust by the coming onboard of the e-call up system.
“However, on Friday, February 21, 11 trucks were apprehended again for non-compliance, which led to an attack on the enforcement officers and the arrest of some suspects connected with the attack, though, the suspects and trucks have all been released as further indication of government’s support for willful compliance.
“The state government warns that these acts of clemency should not be seen as weakness on the part of the government. Stakeholders on the axis are cautioned that a total enforcement process will commence from the 1st of March, 2025. All violators will be apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law.
“The Lagos State Government remains committed to providing a conducive environment for the success of all stakeholders situated and operating along the Lekki-Epe axis, and, by extension, the state as a whole,” the statement concluded.
As March 1 approaches, there are concerns that the full enforcement of the e-call-up system could trigger more crises between truck drivers and government officials.
The e-call-up system is a digital platform designed to regulate the entry and exit of trucks in the Lekki-Epe area by scheduling and coordinating their movements. It is expected to help prevent the chaotic traffic situations often caused by the indiscriminate parking and movement of trucks within the corridor.
