Lagos commuters stranded as commercial bus drivers begin strike over extortion

*The commercial bus drivers, under the aegis of the Joint Drivers’ Welfare Association of Nigeria, have alleged the threat of violence against their members over repeated complaint about extortion in Lagos State is responsible for the development in the metropolis

Emmanuel Akosile | ConsumerConnect

Following the failure of the Lagos State Government and the drivers’ union to reach a truce, commercial drivers under the aegis of  Joint Drivers’ Welfare Association of Nigeria (JDWAN) Monday, October 31, 2022, commenced their seven-day strike.

Members of the group include commercial vehicles, popularly referred to as ‘Danfo’, and mini-buses known in local parlance as ‘Korope’.

ConsumerConnect reports that several workers, students, and business people got stranded for hours at various bus stops, especially along Ikorodu Road and Mile 2 areas of the state as of Monday morning.

Other areas mostly affected include Agege, Alimosho, Ifako-Ijaiye, and Ikeja Local Government areas of the state.

Large crowds commuters  at scores of bus stops  struggled to board a few available buses, which hiked transport fares by as much as 100 percent on some routes.

Amid the confusing atmosphere Monday, as some commuters grudgingly paid the high fares to connect to their destinations, others took to trekking long distances. The situation, coupled with the lingering fuel scarcity, worsened movement in Lagos, according to report.

On Lagos Government and  JDWAN meeting

Abiodun Akintade, National Leader of JDWAN, who disclosed this development in the road transportation sector of the state economy, had said some representatives of the association at the weekend met with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Abdulhafiz Toriola and the Parks Management Liaison Officer, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, in the company of JDWAN’s Legal Adviser, Mr. Ayo Ademiluyi.

Akintade, in a statement however, said the essence of the meeting was defeated, as the drivers rather received threatening messages from the motor park authorities in Lagos State.

The JDWAN National Leader stated: “The leadership of the joint Drivers’ Welfare Association of Nigeria met with Lagos State government representatives, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Abdulhafiz Toriola and the Parks Management Liaison Officer, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu in the company of our Legal Adviser, Mr. Ayo Ademiluyi.

“The Lagos State Government has since made no concrete response to JDWAN demands, rather, their representatives only asked for another letter to be submitted on Monday, which is regarded as a joke on our part.”

Akintade also said: “We have issued a press statement with concise demands.

“We also honoured the demand to deliver a physical copy of the letters to the Lagos State government, the Department of State Security (DSS); the Commissioner of Police and the Commissioner for Transport respectively.

“The retired AIG (Odumosu) also expressly said they can’t get rid of the bus stop to bus stop extortionists because they work for the state government.”

He also alleged that some individuals could organise thugs to attack the drivers.

The JDWAN Chief noted that “we will be blamed or credited for the violence, all in a failed fear-mongering tactic.

“The statement of threat by Hakeem Odumosu that some individuals (names withheld) could attack our members is already happening.

“JDWAN notes that Lagosians must be aware that if anything happens to our drivers, the elements named above should be held responsible.”

He further noted: “It is pertinent to note that there is an existing restraining court order granted by Justice P.O Lifu of a Federal High Court in Ikoyi against the Lagos state government and all transport agencies, stopping them from ticketing, bus stop levies, motor park levies, dues and any form of extortion from commercial drivers with suit no: FHC/L/CS/224/2022 between applicant, Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje, the Transport Union Society of Nigeria, TUSON, and respondents, NURTW, RTEAN, NARTO, Musiliu Akinsanya (MC Oluomo), Mohammed Musa, Lawal Yusuf Othman, Lagos State Government, the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice of Lagos State, Inspector General of Police, Director-General of State Security Service.

“It is sad that the representatives of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu are mocking Lagos drivers’ predicament, and are disinterested in stopping the major factor causing the high cost of living in Lagos, by asking for another letter and demanding that we call off the boycott without addressing our five demands.

“Drivers and commuters have had a brimful of extortion and harassment from the motor park management and caretaker committee thugs popularly known as ‘Agbero’.

The commercial drivers note: “It is also visible to the blind in Lagos that the costs of goods and services are a consequence of Agbero’s extortion.

“No goods can be delivered and the 95% working class resident can be transported without the service of commercial drivers.

“The unfettered and violent extortion by the Lagos government agents has not only increased transportation fare beyond the affordability of workers but also made every good and service out of reach of poor Lagosians.”

Meanwhile, Frederic Oladeinde, Lagos State Commissioner of Transport, has said that that the contending issues with the commercial bus drivers have been resolved, and that the drivers have suspended their strike, Channels TV report said.

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