Harboursandport.com: Lagos - Commercial drivers operating along Mile 2/Badagry Expressway area of Lagos Thursday protest payment of about N4,000 to 'Agberos'' (Area boys) daily.
The protest saw the drivers withdraw
their services from the axis.
The drivers said the N4,000 levy is
usually paid in the form of ticketing and other compulsory levies by the National
Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
As early as 6am, the drivers took to
the road to make burn fire in protests of the extortion which led to scores of
commuters being stranded while others had to trek long distances.
It was gathered that some commuters
who could not withstand the situation were forced to reschedule the day's task.
One of the drivers, Mr. Chinedu
Chukwudi who gave the break down of the levies said the sum of N2,150 is
usually paid before loading while over N2,000 is paid at various bus-stops
before they can be allowed to either pick or drop passengers along the
expressway.
Chinedu said failure to comply will
amount to vehicles being vandalised or drivers being tortured by the
'Agberos'.
He pleaded for the intervention of
the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to end the menace.
Another driver, Lawal Olamijulo
lamented that some of the drivers can no longer make ends meet due to the
situation they find themselves. He said, '"we pay as much as N4,000 daily
whereas "Agberos" don't run any expenses only to extort the drivers
at will,"
A commuter Alhaji Abideen Tunde who
was to ply the route to Ebute-Meta said he had to make a U-Turn because he
could not get public transport from Oko-Afon to Mile 2. He said, "I had
to return home because some of us were stranded. The drivers have been
complaining for years and nothing is done. The commuters suffer from
extortion because it brings an increase in fares. Ordinarily, a trip from Mowo to
Badagry should attract N500 but this has jacked up to N800 due to the
activities of 'Agberos'."
Meanwhile, private car owners seized
the opportunity to charge exorbitantly as they pick some passengers on their
way.
Mrs Abiodun Akinpelu who falls into
the category said she charged N1,500 per trip from Aradagun to Mile 2 instead
of the usual N800 fares.
At press time, the Lagos State NURTW
Chairman, Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya popularly called MC Oluomo did not respond to
Vanguard calls.
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