The Lagos State Government has announced a resolution to the disagreement between Dangote Refinery and e-call-up parking operators.
The e-call-up initiative, supported by the state government, aims to prevent trucks from parking indiscriminately in key business areas, according to The Punch.
Managed by a private company, the initiative ensures that only trucks scheduled to load petroleum products or authorized to be in the area are allowed access.
This measure is designed to prevent a recurrence of the severe gridlock experienced on Apapa Road, which has been a significant issue for local businesses and traffic flow.
It was gathered that the state government wanted to onboard every stakeholder operating in that Lekki free trade zone on the call-up system initiative, which would allow the parking companies to handle the parking and movement of trucks within the free trade zone.
Dangote Group however stated that it could not participate in the e-call-up initiative due to inadequate truck parking capacity provided by the Lagos State Government.
The recent commencement of petrol loading at the Dangote Refinery, which began two weeks ago, has significantly increased trucking operations in the Lekki Free Zone, where the refinery is situated.
This surge in activity has heightened concerns over parking availability and traffic management in the area.
Dangote Refinery told a local paper that it could have provided adequate truck park capacity before commencing operations, according to the initial plan it had, but lamented that the state government dissuaded it on the grounds that the state was already set to provide the facility.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Olawale Musa, stated that the e-call-up company had commenced work after a tripartite meeting between the government, Dangote Group, and the park operators.
Musa characterized the disagreement between Dangote and the e-call-up company as a misunderstanding that has now been resolved by the government.
He emphasized that adherence to the call-up system is essential to prevent truck owners from parking on the road and to maintain orderliness in the area.
He said “In clear terms, what happened is that the Dangote Group thinks that the park arrangement being provided by private individuals may not have the capacity to contain their trucks/ vehicles, but honestly, the park and its operators have shown the capacity, and we have opened talks with the Dangote Group and the issues have been resolved.
“At a meeting of all stakeholders held on Thursday, 19th September 2024, this issue was tabled along with other concerns and a resolution was made by all stakeholders, including Dangote, that the e-call up must commence as scheduled to avoid disorderliness in that axis.
““We don’t just want a situation where unwanted trucks come to block our roads in Lagos, especially in that busy area, because of the business interest in that place; we don’t want a repeat of the Apapa debacle. We are taking proactive measures, and in the end, it will be for the good of all Lagosians.”
Attempts to contact both Dangote and the park’s management for comments on the matter were unsuccessful.
