Long queues may soon begin to surface at the filling stations, as Petroleum tanker drivers on Monday carried out their threat to down tools if Lagos State government fails to withdraw its imposed N12 500 parking fees.
The fees was introduced by the government through the Electronic Call-up Systems Company.
The drivers were joined by other truckers to include lifters of petroleum products from the Dangote refinery, as well as transporters of cargoes from the Lekki Deep Seaport.
Following the protest, cargoes were trapped at the Lekki port.
The Lagos State Government seems unperturbed by the strike as it insisted that there was no going back in the implementation of the E-Call Up system on Monday.
The state government accused the unions of collecting up to N41,000 from drivers without any service.
The truckers under the aegis of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, as well as petroleum tankers under the umbrella of Petroleum Tankers Drivers, protested within the Lekki-Epe transport corridor over the enforcement.
The National President of NARTO, Yusuf Othman, explained that the truckers have temporarily suspended loading operations over the controversial fee.
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 of the truckers and petroleum tanker drivers have left their trucks, refusing to load.