Fuel scarcity may soon hit Lagos and other parts of Nigeria as petroleum tanker drivers have stopped loading fuel.
The drivers claim they are being harassed by officials of the Lagos State Government and the Federal Ministry of Transportation.
Telecommunication companies have also warned that the strike may disrupt diesel supply, which could affect mobile and internet services.
Reports show that truck drivers did not load fuel on Saturday and Sunday, raising fears of fuel shortages in Lagos and other states.
However, the Lagos State Government said it is only enforcing its e-call-up system and will not allow blackmail. The e-call-up system is a digital platform launched in September 2024 to control truck movements in the Lekki-Epe corridor and reduce traffic congestion.
In an interview, the National President of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Yusuf Othman, said government officials often beat and harass truck drivers without reason.
“The tax force in Lagos State has towed our trucks and they are beating our drivers, They damaged the vehicle of the union. So, because of that, there was no loading yesterday (Saturday and there is no loading today (Sunday). I don’t know whether there will be any form of loading tomorrow in Lagos environment. The union and the tax force are disturbing us,” Othman said.
When asked if this would cause fuel scarcity, he replied, “I wouldn’t know, but I know there was no loading yesterday, there is no loading today, and there may not be tomorrow. And all is because of this Lagos tax force.
“They are busy collecting our vehicles, giving fines and whatever. I don’t know how they will operate without fuel trucks. There is no refinery or depot in any place that can operate without a vehicle that will come and take products from them. So, they have to find a way of ensuring that we all co-exist peacefully.”
Othman clarified that this issue is not related to the recent ban on 60,000 trucks. “It’s entirely a different thing. It’s a tax force from the Lagos State Government and the Federal Ministry of Transport,” he added.
In response, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Wale Musa, said the government is working to prevent traffic congestion near the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
“I am aware that some enforcement was done at the Dangote refinery axis. If it is the same issue, the enforcement is to ensure compliance with our e-call-up system.
“We won’t allow them to turn that place into another Apapa. Their attempt at blackmail will not suffice. We urge willful compliance for everybody’s sake,” Musa stated.
Telecommunications companies have raised concerns that the ongoing strike may cause network blackouts due to diesel shortages.
The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), which represents major operators, warned that network services could be disrupted if diesel supply is not restored soon.
“If diesel supply is disrupted, it will impact network operations because telcos rely on diesel to power their sites almost daily,” ATCON President, Tony Emoekpere, said.
Mobile operators like MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile depend on infrastructure companies such as IHS Towers, American Tower Company, and Pan African Towers to power their sites using diesel generators.
“This situation wasn’t planned for. Even in cases like this, there should be mechanisms in place to ensure telecom services are not compromised. Telecom infrastructure is critical national infrastructure and should not be left vulnerable,” Emoekpere added.
ATCON has urged the governors of Lagos and Ogun states to help release diesel from depots to telecom operators.
“This is not just a telecom issue—it is a national emergency that could cripple economic activities and compromise public safety,” Emoekpere said.
He argued that if diesel supply is not restored soon, millions of Nigerians may face network disruptions, affecting both businesses and individuals who depend on stable communication networks.
