Lagos and many other parts of Nigeria are now facing a possible fuel shortage as tanker drivers have halted loading fuel.
The action by the drivers is in protest of alleged harassment by officials of the Lagos State Government and the Federal Ministry of Transportation.
The situation is already causing panic among residents and businesses, with long queues beginning to form at some petrol stations.
Telecommunications companies have also raised an alarm about a possible network blackout. According to the Telcos, the ongoing strike by tanker drivers could disrupt the supply of diesel, which is essential for powering telecom towers.
According to reports, tanker drivers were unable to load fuel on both Saturday and Sunday.
The National President of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Yusuf Othman, has accused the Lagos State Task Force and officials from the Federal Ministry of Transportation of harassing their members.
“The problem we have now is that the task force in Lagos State is towing our trucks and beating our drivers. They even damaged one of our union’s vehicles. Because of this, there was no fuel loading on Saturday and Sunday,” Othman said.
He further expressed uncertainty about whether fuel loading would resume on Monday. “I cannot say for sure if there will be any loading tomorrow (Monday). Everything depends on how the government handles the situation,” he added.
Othman also pointed out that this strike was not related to the recent ban on 60,000 trucks, but rather a separate issue involving the Lagos State Government and the Federal Ministry of Transportation.
In response to the protest, the Lagos State Government insisted that it was only enforcing its e-call-up system.
The system, introduced in September 2024, is a digital platform designed to manage the movement of trucks, especially in the Lekki-Epe corridor. The aim is to reduce traffic congestion and prevent the kind of gridlock previously seen in Apapa.
The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Wale Musa, defended the government’s actions. “We are aware that enforcement was carried out at the Dangote refinery axis. This enforcement is to ensure that tanker drivers comply with the e-call-up system. We will not allow them to turn that place into another Apapa,” Musa stated.
He further warned that any attempt by the drivers to use the strike as blackmail would not work. “We urge all parties to comply with the system for the sake of everyone,” Musa added.
