THE Lagos State Government said it has launched an E-Call Up System to manage truck movements within the Lekki-Epe Free Trade Zone corridor.
The rollout of the system was anticipated following the Dangote Refinery’s commencement of petrol loading to oil marketers.
The e-call-up is expected to streamline traffic flow, reduce waiting times, enhance logistics and ease congestion of articulated trucks within the Lekki-Epe axis.
In a statement on Monday, September 23, the commissioner for transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the e-call-up system commenced today.
“To avert severe congestion by articulated trucks and improve the efficiency of logistics operations within the Lekki-Epe Free Trade Zone corridor, the Lagos State Government has commenced the E-Call Up System for managing truck movements within the axis from today 23rd September 2024.
“The E-Call Up system is a sustainable, effective and technology-driven solution of truck movement in the Lekki-Epe corridor,” Osiyemi said.
According to him, the system will serve as a sustainable, technology-driven solution designed to optimise truck scheduling and coordination, significantly improving transportation efficiency in the area.
It will also ease the movement of people by reducing traffic congestion and improving access to jobs and services while promoting economic growth by enhancing logistics efficiency and stimulating business activities in the region, he added.
The 650,000-capacity Dangote refinery, located in the Lagos Free Trade Zone corridor, began fuel distribution on September 15 as traffic gridlock is expected to intensify in the corridor.
The Lagos state government initially billed August 1 to roll out the e-call-up system but later postponed it, The ICIR reported.
Its initial disclosure was to use the system to regulate truck movements through five designated holding parks.
This includes Hog Marketing Limited in Okorisan, Epe; Nilmage Two4Seven in Poka, Epe; Goldspeed Freight Agency Ltd, opposite Dangote Refinery; Diamond Star Ports and Terminal Ltd in Abule Panu; and Tal Concept Ltd at HFP Brick Industry along the Lekki-Epe Expressway.
It planned to ban and enforce truck movements during peak hours of 5 am to 9 am and 6 pm to 10 pm, with compliance overseen by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Taskforce, and Police.
Ahead of the commencement of loading of petrol products from Dangote refinery, the Lagos government had mobilised traffic control measures to tackle anticipated gridlock on the corridor, The ICIR reported.