Tanker operators protested the N12,500 levy in Lagos State on Monday.
Eko Hot News reports that members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) staged a peaceful protest on Monday, June 16, 2025, pulling fuel and haulage trucks from the route.
The tanker operators described the levy as exploitative and ill-timed, warning that it could cripple operations across the fuel distribution chain.
They argue that the N12,500 levy, introduced through a public-private partnership, is being imposed without proper infrastructure or engagement with stakeholders. This charge applies to trucks operating along Lekki-Epe by the Lagos State Government.
“We have had several meetings, but the government has remained adamant. There is no gridlock along the corridor. So why this levy? This policy is not about solving a traffic problem, it’s about enriching private interests under the pretence of public benefit,” said Dele Tajudeen, immediate past chairman of IPMAN in the South-West.
He also raised concerns about the destination of the funds, stating, “We already pay N7,000 at the toll gate. Now, an additional N12,500 is being demanded. That’s N19,500 before we even load fuel. And this money, we hear, is going to a private account, not the government. This is not sustainable.”
The tanker operators say the financial burden will eventually be passed to consumers, compounding inflation and increasing fuel prices. With diesel costs surging and truck maintenance becoming more expensive, many fear the levy will drive them out of business.
The chairman of NARTO at the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Gbenga Olubasusi, also criticised the lack of infrastructure to support truck operations.
Wale Oladeinde, NARTO Southwest Zonal secretary, clarified that the action is not a formal strike but a withdrawal of services under unfair operating conditions.
“This is not industrial action. We’re simply exercising our right to stop work under unfair conditions. The trucks are privately owned, and no one can force us to operate under such policies. If Lagos insists on this levy, fuel supply will suffer, and so will the economy.”
Lagos State NARTO Chairman, Kayode Odunowo, echoed the warning, saying the industry cannot absorb additional costs.
Olaniyan Yekini, IPMAN Mosimi Depot vice chairman, also questioned why Lagos imposes levies without offering basic infrastructure.
“Other states like Oyo and Ogun have proper trailer parks. Lagos provides parks for buses but not trucks. Yet, they want us to pay more. Are we not part of Nigeria?” he asked.
Meanwhile, Eko Hot News reports that the withdrawal of tanker services from the corridor, a key petroleum products distribution hub housing the Dangote Refinery and other major facilities, has raised alarm over disruptions to fuel supply in Lagos and other regions.
