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Marketers, Truckers Boycott Lekki-Epe Over E-Call-Up Levy
Petroleum marketers and truck owners have protested the Lagos State Government’s enforcement of a controversial N12,500 e-call-up levy on trucks operating along the Lekki-Epe corridor.
There are fears that the action may launch the country into another round of fuel scarcity.
On Monday, members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) withdrew haulage and fuel trucks from the corridor in rejection of the burdensome policy.
Stakeholders said the action raises serious concerns about fuel distribution in Lagos and other parts of the country, as the Lekki axis plays a strategic role in supplying petroleum products, particularly with the presence of the massive Dangote Refinery and associated facilities.
The protesters said the e-call-up levy—part of a public-private partnership (PPP) initiative—is being enforced without adequate infrastructure or stakeholder input.
According to them, the policy does not address any actual traffic congestion, which government officials have cited as the primary reason for its implementation.
Speaking, Dele Tajudeen, immediate past Chairman of IPMAN in the South-West, said all efforts to reach accord with the government fell flat
He added:“We have had several meetings, but the government has remained adamant,” Tajudeen said. “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 pretense of public benefit.”
He further argued that the funds from the levy are not being remitted directly to the state government but rather to private partners, raising questions about transparency.
“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 government. This is not sustainable.”
Truck owners warned that the cost burden will be transferred to consumers, worsening economic hardship in the country.
They also said new levy could ground many businesses in the fuel distribution chain due to the rising price of diesel, vehicle maintenance, and spare parts.
Gbenga Olubasusi, Chairman of NARTO at the Lekki Free Trade Zone, said: “Trailer tyres now cost over N700,000, and trucks that used to cost N4.5 million now go for over N40 million. We are already managing so much inflation. This new levy will drive up fuel prices and everything else.”
He also faulted the absence of basic facilities for truckers in the area.
He said:“There is no government trailer park here. We use private parks and pay between N3,000 and N5,000 daily. Now they want to charge us an additional N12,500 with nothing to show in return?”
Also, Comrade Wale Oladeinde, Zonal Secretary of NARTO Southwest, explained that the action is not a strike but a strategic withdrawal of services.
“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.”
Lamenting, Lagos State NARTO Chairman, Kayode Odunowo, said the industry cannot absorb the additional costs.
“We are totally against this charge. We cooperated in Apapa years ago with similar promises from the government, but they failed to deliver. This time, we won’t play along.”
He warned that any disruption in truck movement would have a cascading effect on the national economy.
“Containers, fuel, food—all rely on trucks. When we stop, everything stops. No NARTO, no Nigeria.”
Olaniyan Yekini, Vice Chairman of IPMAN, Mosimi Depot, questioned the rationale behind levies without 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?”
Both IPMAN and NARTO waved an olive branch, imploring the Lagos State Government to suspend the levy and invite stakeholders for genuine consultations aimed at building practical, inclusive solutions that address transport challenges without punishing operators.
“We are not against regulation,” said Oladeinde, adding that :“But it has to be fair and transparent. You don’t tax a sector without providing the enabling environment.”
Independent.ng
The Vice Chancellor of Atiba University, Oyo, Professor Sunday Okeniyi, has enjoined the newly employed staff of the institution to develop the spirit of teamwork, respect, and discipline, which are the hallmarks of every successful institution.
Okeniyi disclosed this during the orientation programme for the newly employed staff of the institution.
While welcoming the newly employed staff, he also congratulated them on their successful appointment into the fast-rising institution. “Your joining us today is not by chance, but by merit, commitment, and the will of God. Atiba University is a citadel of learning and character formation, envisioned to nurture and produce men and women of excellence, integrity, and service. By becoming part of this family, you are now co-builders of this noble vision.”
The V-C said the orientation programme was a deliberate initiative of the management to formally integrate the new staff into the University system. “It is designed to give you a clear understanding of our mission, vision, core values, rules, and operational culture. Our goal is not just for you to work here, but for you to thrive, contribute meaningfully, and leave an indelible mark on the growth and transformation of this University.”
He explained that the university places a premium on academic excellence, innovative research, moral uprightness, and community development. These values define the identity and are the standards the staff must all uphold in their respective assignments—whether as academic staff shaping young minds or as non-teaching staff providing essential support services that make our work possible.
While admitting much needed to be done, Okeniyi said the institution has recorded remarkable progress within a short time. “The future we envision—a future of global competitiveness, leadership in innovation and knowledge, and impact within and beyond Nigeria—requires the collective commitment of every member of staff. That includes you. Your dedication, creativity, and professionalism are needed to propel us forward,” he said.
News
This Is War, Kill Every Single One Of Them – Fani-Kayode Blows Hot Over Zamfara Mosque Massacre
Former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode has condemned the gruesome murder of five worshippers during an early morning prayer in Yandoto village, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
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Speaking via his 𝕏 account, he insisted that the killers should be wiped out, adding that there should be no room for discussions or negotiations.
Fani-Kayode asserted that the killers are terrorists not bandits and described their actions as an act of war.
He wrote: “These are not bandits. Pls stop calling them bandits. They are bloodthirsty killers and terrorists and every single one of them should be wiped off the face of the earth.
“If our people cannot worship God in peace then we have nothing. No negotiation, no discussion, no ransom payments, no rehabilitation.
“This is WAR. Kill every single one of them, wipe out their blood line and decimate their communities and abodes. There is no place on earth for those that slaughter innocent civilians.”
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has accused Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of failing to address the escalating banditry crisis in the state.
Naija News reports that a deadly attack occurred on Sunday in Oke-Ode, Ifelodun Local Government Area, which left several residents and vigilante members dead.
Speaking via a statement on Monday, the Publicity Secretary of the party, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, described the massacre as “a despicable and senseless act.”
He blamed the governor for the insecurity situation in the state, noting that it is a monumental leadership failure.
Adewara said, “The gruesome videos of the casualties circulating online make it look like Kwara is now at war. Under AbdulRahman’s watch, terror is reigning, kidnappers are taking over rural villages, and nowhere is safe again.”
The opposition party faulted AbdulRazaq’s alleged silence and absence from the affected community, insisting that a responsible leader should have personally visited Oke-Ode to commiserate with victims’ families and give assurances of decisive action.
It further accused the governor of neglecting local vigilantes and security personnel “battling criminals in the bush,” while diverting funds to “footballers and entertainers outside the state.”
The PDP’s criticism comes amid rising concern in Kwara North, where repeated bandit attacks have forced residents to abandon farms, schools, and businesses.
News
Nigeria @65: Atiku Knocks Tinubu’s Government In Strongly-Worded Independence Day Message; Details Emerge
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has praised Nigerians for what he described as “uncommon patience, endurance, and resilience despite living under suffocating socio-economic and security conditions”
In his Independence Day message to Nigerians, the opposition leader alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration had abandoned Nigerians to their fate
Atiku lamented that Nigerians were enduring pains from “raging insecurity, rising food scarcity, mass unemployment, and a dangerous climate of hopelessness all “compounded by the insensitivity of the APC-led administration
In an Independence Day message released by his media office, obtained by Legit.ng, Atiku lamented that Nigerians are enduring excruciating pains from raging insecurity, rising food scarcity, mass unemployment, and a dangerous climate of hopelessness.
The presidential hopeful accused the Tinubu administration of being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians.
Atiku declared: “It is tragic that in a country blessed with immense human and material resources, millions of our people have been reduced to refugees and beggars in their fatherland. Every responsible government holds the welfare and security of its citizens as supreme. But what we have today is an administration that has abandoned its people. Hunger is killing Nigerians, bandits are massacring communities, yet President Tinubu and his cabinet stand by, unmoved and uncaring.”
Furthermore, Atiku called on citizens not to lose faith, reminding Nigerians that the 2027 election provides a clear opportunity to reject bad leadership and reclaim the promise of a better tomorrow.
He said: “The beauty of democracy lies in the power of the ballot. Oppressed and battered as our people may feel today, they will have the chance to sweep away this inept government at the next polls. That is the power no cabal can take away from the people.”
At 65, Atiku noted, Nigeria remains “a giant moving painfully slow on feet of clay”.
The 78-year-old blamed Nigeria’s condition on “a direct result of decades of poor leadership and wasteful governance.”
He bemoaned: “Yet, he urged Nigerians to keep hope alive, insisting that with the right leadership, the country can still rise from the ashes of failed governance to reclaim its rightful place among the comity of nations.”
PRESS RELEASE
Nigeria @65: @atiku Hails Nigerians’ Courage, Blasts APC Over Economic Strangulation
Former Vice President of Nigeria and Waziri Adamawa, Atiku Abubakar, has paid tribute to the uncommon patience, endurance, and resilience of Nigerians who, despite living under… pic.twitter.com/cPnI9KzxrJ
— Paul Ibe (@omonlakiki) September 30, 2025
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