Fuel marketers are asking the Lagos State Government to slash a new truck parking charge, warning that the high cost could lead to more expensive petrol for Nigerians.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) says the sudden jump in the electronic truck call-up fee, from ₦2,500 to ₦12,500, is putting pressure on fuel suppliers and may affect the price at the pump.
Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, IPMAN’s spokesperson, Chinedu Ukadike, said the new fee is too costly for businesses already struggling with high operational expenses.
“This extra cost will eventually fall on consumers. We’re trying to avoid a situation where fuel prices go up again,” he explained.
Truck drivers also joined the protest, pausing fuel transportation from Dangote Refinery and Lekki Deep Seaport to express their frustration with the price hike.
The president of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Yusuf Othman, confirmed that fuel loading at the ports was on hold, not as a full strike, but as a protest to demand a fairer charge.
“We support the idea of a truck call-up system to reduce gridlock, but this fee is just too much,” Othman said.
Talks between the transport unions and the Lagos State Government are still ongoing, with hopes of finding a middle ground soon.
