By CHIAZO OGBOLU

The Lagos State Government says the enforcement of the electronic call-up (e-call-up) system on the Lekki-Epe corridor will officially begin on June 16, following an earlier postponement.

The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, said this in a statement signed by the state’s Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, on Sunday.

The announcement was made during a stakeholders’ meeting convened to address pressing concerns surrounding traffic management and congestion caused by increasing industrial activities within the Lekki Free Zone and its surrounding areas.

Hamzat explained that the e-call-up system was designed to regulate the movement of articulated vehicles and tankers accessing the corridor.

He added that this would promote orderly traffic flow, preventing the kind of gridlock previously experienced in the Apapa area.

“I urge all stakeholders to remain fully committed to the initiative, as it is critical in enhancing logistics efficiency and improving road transportation infrastructure in the state,” he said.

Also speaking, Osiyemi, reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to the project.

He acknowledged that while previous engagements with stakeholders had resulted in consensus on implementation, challenges encountered during recent enforcement efforts necessitated a temporary pause and further consultations.

The commissioner further directed the immediate removal of all articulated vehicles currently obstructing traffic along the Lekki-Epe corridor.

“Enforcement of the e-call-up system is not intended as a revenue-generating initiative, but rather as a vital strategy to improve traffic flow, safety, and road infrastructure management across the state,” he said.

The meeting witnessed the participation of key stakeholders, including representatives from the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).

Others include: Major Energies Marketer Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), Lekki Worldwide Investment Company (LWIC), Lekki Free Zone (LFZ), Lekki Sea Port.

Also involved in the meeting are: Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC Retail), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). (NAN)