Commuters Stranded As Lagos Drivers Begin Seven-Day Boycott
Some commuters were stranded in Lagos State today (Monday 31 October 2022) as commercial bus drivers under the aegis of the Joint Drivers Welfare Association of Nigeria (JDWAN) commenced a seven-day boycott of Lagos roads.
The drivers are observing the boycott over alleged extortion by men of the motor parks and garage management in the state.
Eighteen-Eleven Media had on 22nd October 2022 reported a threat by the association to embark on a seven days protest and boycott of services across the state over multiple and excessive extortions by the management of parks and garages in the state.
A trip round the state by our correspondents indicates substantial compliance to the boycott by drivers, leaving thousands of commuters stranded at bus stops.
The association had in a statement by its National Leader, Akintade S. Abiodun; Chairman; Opeyemi Sulaiman; General Secretary, Ajimatanarareje A. Feyisayo and Assistant Secretary, Taofik Hassan, scheduled Monday, 31 October for the commencement of the protest, as it instructed its members to adhere to the instruction.
The drivers lamented that despite their dedication to their work, they had been subjected to indiscriminate extortion, and violent harassment by the management of state transport agencies, motor parks and garages and the Lagos State caretaker committee.
The statement read, “This is to notify members of the public and the Lagos State government over multiple and excessive extortions by the motor parks and garages management.
“The cost of transportation affects the cost of goods and services and consequently the cost of living, which has spiralled astronomically in Lagos State as a result of the effect of motor parks excessive and illegal ticketing and tolling at almost every bus stop.
“On Federal Mass and Coaster, we pay over ₦12,000 on each trip from Oko Afo to CMS or to Oyingbo, which includes loading charges and illegal payments at several bus stops till we get to our destination.
“From Ogijo to Ikorodu, we pay over ₦5,500 per day. Garage Ticket ₦850, Chairman ticket ₦1,700, King’s levy ₦200, Ita Oluwo ₦500, Odo Gunyon ₦1,200, Ile Epo Oba ₦200. We also pay ₦900 for passIng by whether you pick up a passenger or not.
“At Ikorodu Roundabout we pay ₦1,000 in the morning and afternoon and we pay ₦500 in the evening which makes it ₦2,500. At Benson Bus Stop we pay ₦900 for a whole day, loading at ₦300 each for morning, afternoon and evening.
“At Agric Bus Stop we pay ₦200 to 8 motor park thugs. It is called “Welcome to Agric Tax”. When we stop to load passengers at the Agric Bus Stop we pay an extra ₦300 which isn’t part of the ₦1,600 “Welcome to Agric Tax”. When we get to Aunty Kenny Bus Stop we pay ₦200 before buying a Lagos State ticket for ₦500.
“At Ogolonto Bus Stop we pay ₦100. At Mile 12 Bus Stop we pay ₦500 for plying the expressway and ₦1,000 for plying the service lane (for buses en route Yaba-Oyingbo). Mile 12 to Ojuelegba buses pay ₦1,500 while red Coaster buses pay ₦2,000.
“Red buses from Ikorodu to Oshodi pay ₦5,000 to motor park boys in the morning and afternoon. At Ketu Bus Stop we pay between ₦600 to ₦1,000 depending on the size of the bus for just dropping off passengers or picking up any single one. For buses plying from Yaba to Ikeja, we pay ₦200 at Jibowu Bus Stop, Total Bus Stop ₦100, Fadeyi ₦100, Onipanu ₦200, Elediye ₦200, Palmgrove ₦200, Anthony ₦100, Ikeja ₦200 – total ₦1,300.
“On our way back to Yaba, Palmgrove and Onipanu is ₦500, Fadeyi and Total ₦500, Yaba ₦200 with LASG ₦800 ticket making it a total of ₦3,300 in the morning alone.
“We pay ₦2,000 each in the afternoon and evening, which makes a total of ₦7,300 daily. Korope plying lyana Iba-Okoko to Agbara are paying ₦5,000 per day to motor park boys without the extra LASTMA and Police department and Lagos Task Force daily extortion.
“When we resist the extortion, we get arrested and pay ₦10,000 for bail to the Police while the motor park boys go scot free and we also have to bail our buses separately.
