Lagos Loses N4 Trillion Annually to Traffic Congestion: State Government Moves to Enforce e-Call-Up System for Tankers and Trailers

In a striking revelation, the Lagos State Government has announced that the city’s residents lose an average of four hours daily to traffic congestion, resulting in a staggering ₦4 trillion loss in productivity each year. The persistent gridlock, particularly along the Lekki-Epe industrial corridor, has become a pressing economic and logistical challenge for Africa’s most populous city.

This announcement was made on Friday, June 13, 2025, by Sola Giwa, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, in a statement reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The Cost of Congestion

According to Giwa, the main culprits behind the traffic snarl-ups are the disorganised movement, indiscriminate parking, and chaotic loading and unloading activities of tankers and articulated trucks. These practices, he said, are particularly rampant along the Lekki-Epe corridor — a route critical to the state’s industrial operations.

“Lagos residents lose an average of four hours daily to traffic congestion, resulting in an estimated four trillion naira loss annually,” Giwa stated.

This corridor houses major infrastructure such as the Lekki Deep Sea Port, the Dangote Refinery, and multiple industrial estates, making it one of the state’s busiest freight and logistics routes.

e-Call-Up System Enforcement Begins June 16

To address the worsening situation, the Lagos State Government has declared that all tankers and articulated vehicles operating along the Lekki-Epe axis must register and operate through the Electronic Call-Up (e-Call-Up) system, with full enforcement starting on June 16, 2025.

This digital platform requires logistics operators to:

• Upload their Authority to Load (ATL) documents

• Pre-book parking slots before gaining access to the city

Any vehicle failing to comply risks being denied entry or impounded, Giwa warned.

Infrastructure and Data-Driven Solutions

To support this initiative, the government has approved the development of seven dedicated truck parks along the corridor. These parks will be equipped with:

• Restrooms

• Kitchens

• Reliable electricity

The amenities are aimed at improving driver welfare, while also facilitating organized queuing and efficient loading operations.

Additionally, the platform will collect real-time data on truck movement and scheduling, enabling better traffic coordination with industrial zones and Lekki Port operations.

“This enforcement strategy is the product of over two years of stakeholder engagement and is part of a broader transport reform,” Giwa said.

Historical Context and Road Ahead

While this enforcement marks a new phase on the Lekki-Epe axis, the e-Call-Up system itself is not new to Lagos. It was first introduced by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in 2021 to manage truck traffic along the Apapa and Tin Can port corridors. The system was then extended to the Lekki corridor in September 2024, but temporarily suspended in March 2025 for further consultation with logistics stakeholders.

With enforcement now resuming, the Lagos State Government appears committed to tackling one of its most costly and long-standing urban challenges. The initiative is seen as a critical step in restoring sanity to freight movement, improving road safety, and enhancing economic productivity across the state.

Final Thoughts

As Lagos grapples with rapid urbanisation and booming industrial activity, particularly in the Lekki region, digital infrastructure like the e-Call-Up system could become a game-changer in traffic management. With the cost of inaction pegged at ₦4 trillion annually, stakeholders and residents alike will be watching closely to see if this enforcement marks a turning point in the city’s struggle against gridlock.

For a city that serves as Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre, the ability to move people and goods efficiently isn’t just about convenience — it’s about securing economic resilience for the future.