Every single day, the Lekki-Epe Expressway bears the load of a whole lot of articulated vans ferrying cargo from key installations together with the Lekki Free Commerce Zone, Dangote Refinery, and the Lekki Deep Sea Port, together with different industrial and industrial services lining the hall.
With just one main entry and exit route, the hall has turn into a strain level the place a surge in industrial actions meets fragile infrastructure.
To forestall a significant future site visitors disaster much like the one which plagued Apapa and Tin Can ports a number of years in the past, the Lagos State Authorities reintroduced its digital call-up system on June 16, 2025, after suspending it in March.
First launched in September 2024, the system was designed to manage the move of vans utilizing a digital scheduling platform. The renewed effort is seen as a transfer to keep away from a repeat of the gridlock that when crippled entry to Apapa and Tin Can ports earlier than reforms improved the state of affairs.
The Lagos State Authorities revealed that between 360 and 400 vans at present function on the Lekki-Epe hall each day. Nevertheless, with rising industrial exercise from the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Dangote Refinery, the Lekki Free Commerce Zone, and different main developments, that determine may climb to between 3,000 and 4,000 vans per day, in accordance with projections by the Ministry of Transportation.
This raises considerations that the hall’s solely main entry highway may turn into overwhelmed.
To handle this anticipated surge, the federal government reintroduced a structured digital call-up system. Vans are required to register on a digital platform (mycallup.com) and stay in one in all seven designated holding bays till summoned electronically. Every truck should additionally carry a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag to allow real-time monitoring and enforcement.
Initially, a N2,500 levy was charged per truck to help infrastructure and logistics. Nevertheless, throughout the June 2025 relaunch, the payment was raised to N12,500—sparking backlash from {groups} such because the Impartial Petroleum Entrepreneurs Affiliation of Nigeria (IPMAN), the Maritime Employees Union of Nigeria (MWUN), and the Nationwide Affiliation of Highway Transport Homeowners (NARTO).
From conversations with stakeholders, it’s clear that the system, at the very least in its early days, confirmed promise.
Chinedu Ukadike, Nationwide Publicity Secretary of the Impartial Petroleum Entrepreneurs Affiliation of Nigeria (IPMAN), informed Nairametrics that the primary rollout helped scale back friction between drivers and haulage operators.
“Vans stayed in designated holding bays and solely moved when summoned through the app,” he mentioned.
“It made the method extra orderly. You didn’t should battle your manner ahead or pay to be known as up first.”
He added that the initiative considerably decreased disputes and corruption within the hall. “Earlier than the system, it was who-you-know. Now, it’s who-is-called. That alone introduced some peace.”
Ukadike defined that on the preliminary N2,500 levy, this system appeared cheap and supported fundamental providers like signage and upkeep. Nevertheless, that goodwill started to erode when the payment jumped to N12,500 per truck within the June 2025 relaunch.
On the day enforcement resumed, tensions flared over the brand new N12,500 payment required for vans accessing the hall. The Maritime Employees Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and the Nationwide Affiliation of Highway Transport Homeowners (NARTO) pushed again, calling the cost extreme and poorly communicated.
IPMAN instructed its members to boycott the hall, warning that the rise may destabilize gasoline distribution throughout Lagos.
“This new quantity is unfair and dangers rising gasoline pump costs,” Ukadike mentioned.
Nevertheless, the strike was short-lived. Two days after asserting the boycott, IPMAN suspended the motion following a dedication from the Lagos State Authorities to start negotiations.
Nonetheless, considerations stay over whether or not the levy displays precise service enhancements or is just one other {financial} burden. As of now, there has but to be a decision between the Lagos State Authorities, IPMAN, and different stakeholders on whether or not the N12,500 levy might be maintained, reviewed, or decreased.
For residents residing alongside the Lekki-Epe hall, the return of truck enforcement has drawn combined reactions. Whereas some fear concerning the potential for future gridlock, others say truck exercise just isn’t the principle reason behind the world’s congestion.
Asukwo Ndem, a resident who lives close to the hall, mentioned site visitors congestion tends to happen throughout peak hours however just isn’t instantly tied to truck motion. He famous that in contrast to the state of affairs alongside the Apapa and Tin Can ports hall in earlier years, vans on the Lekki-Epe axis typically don’t park alongside the highway or hinder site visitors.
“Thus far, truck actions haven’t disrupted my each day commute,” he mentioned.
“Sure, there’s site visitors, nevertheless it’s largely because of the rising variety of individuals and vehicles utilizing the hall for work and enterprise.”
Immanuel Alabi, one other resident, recognized inhabitants development and commuting patterns as the actual strain factors on the highway. He noticed that site visitors is often intense between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., particularly on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
“The vans aren’t the principle drawback,” he mentioned.
“The excessive variety of non-public vehicles and minibusses is what causes many of the congestion, and that’s tied to the overall inhabitants strain within the state.”
Alabi added that whereas the BRT system operates alongside the hall, it’s not as dependable or constant as in areas like Ikorodu, Ikeja, Egbeda, or Lagos Island the place commuters can rely upon it as a major mode of transport. He believes a extra environment friendly service within the space may assist scale back the variety of non-public vehicles on the highway.
“From the onset, Lagos operated on the defective assumption that gatekeeping truck entry and exit would remedy congestion,” he said.
“From the onset, Lagos operated on the defective assumption that gatekeeping truck entry and exit would remedy congestion,” he said.
“However you may’t coordinate your manner out of inefficiency.”
