The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced it will begin nationwide distribution of petrol and diesel from August 15, deploying 4,000 brand-new CNG-powered tankers to ease supply and cut down delivery costs amid growing fuel scarcity fears in Lagos and beyond.
This development comes as tanker drivers and fuel marketers in Lagos halt loading operations in protest against the Lagos State Government’s N12,500 E-Call Up fee per truck, a system aimed at controlling traffic on the busy Lekki-Epe corridor.
In a statement on Sunday, the refinery said the plan includes free product delivery, a credit scheme for bulk buyers, and booster CNG stations to revamp fuel access across Nigeria. “This strategic programme is part of our broader commitment to eliminating logistics costs, enhancing energy efficiency, promoting sustainability, and supporting Nigeria’s economic development,” the company said.
However, tension is rising as members of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) reject the E-Call Up fee, saying it’s too expensive and was introduced without proper consultation.
NARTO President Yusuf Othman warned: “We told our members not to ply the road… until we have an amicable resolution with the Lagos State Government. We recommended N2,500 from the beginning.”
IPMAN Vice President Hammed Fashola echoed the concern, accusing the government of rushing the policy. “If you want to do a call-up system, you have to involve the refinery and the depots… There must be a synergy so all stakeholders are on the same page,” he said.
Fashola also criticized the condition of the designated truck parks. “All these facilities are just like a mushroom park… There were no facilities in place. How can you put a truck on an empty ground? You are just waiting for disaster.”
But the Lagos State Government insists the fee is justified, emphasizing that it’s not going into government coffers but to maintain privately-built truck parks. Permanent Secretary Olawale Musa said, “We are not collecting money. The money is for the truck park… We’ve provided conveniences for them. But they just don’t want to obey the rules.”
He also accused the unions of exploiting drivers, saying, “The union is collecting about N41,000 per truck without providing any service.”
Despite reassurances from Dangote and the government, stakeholders fear the standoff could spark a fresh wave of fuel scarcity if talks fail. Fashola urged swift action: “The government has to do something. It has to call a meeting so that we can resolve this problem once and for all.”
