Lagos drivers, under the aegis of Joint Drivers Welfare Association of Nigeria, had threatened a boycott of the roads from October 31, 2022, over alleged extortion by motor parks and garages management under the leadership of Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo.
An anti-corruption group, the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL has called on the Lagos State government to quickly dialogue with the commercial drivers, who are threatening to embark on seven-day mass protest in the state.
Lagos drivers, under the aegis of Joint Drivers Welfare Association of Nigeria, had threatened a boycott of the roads from October 31, 2022, over alleged extortion by motor parks and garages management under the leadership of Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo.
In a statement signed on Friday, October 21, by JDWAN’s National Leader, Chairman, Secretary and Assistant Secretary; Akintade Abiodun, Opeyemi Suleiman, Ajimatanarareje Feyisayo, and Taofeek Hassan, the group called for seven days mass protest and total boycott, seeking an end to what it described as excessive extortion and harassment of drivers at various bus stops, garages and parks in Lagos, and asked the government to intervene.
They listed the points of alleged extortions to include: Badagry, Mile 2, Seme, Ogijo, Ikorodu, Ikeja, Agric Bus Stop and many parts of the State, saying they pay as high as N5,000 and N7,100 at different points.
“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.
“We have been sentenced to extortion and violent harassment by the state transport agencies – Lagos State motor parks and garages management and Lagos State caretaker committee.
“On a daily basis, we lose half of our income to the motor park boys (agberos); we pay exorbitant charges in the garages and at every bus stop where we drop off passengers; either we pick up passengers or not, we pay morning, afternoon and night. Some routes have 25 bus stops which also serve as illegal tax collection avenues,” the statement partly read.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued by CACOL and signed by Tola Oresanwo, the anti-corruption organisation’s Director, Administration and Programmes on behalf of its Chairman, Mr. Debo Adeniran, threw its weight behind the commercial drivers to embark on seven-day mass protest.
CACOL explained that it is instructive to note that over the years, multiple and excessive extortion from Lagos drivers had been the order of the day.
It stressed that the interesting aspect of the extortion was that the money being collected from the drivers had not been accounted for by relevant agencies of government.
“We at CACOL believe that allowing these drivers to carry out their threat without addressing the issues raised would be tantamount to insensitivity on the part of government, it may also lead to unnecessary break down of law and order with the attendant disruption in the economic activities in the state and it will subject large numbers of commuters to untold hardships.
"These drivers knowing fully well that their activities contribute significantly to the growth and development of the economy of Lagos State.
“We therefore call on the Lagos State government to quickly call and dialogue with these drivers knowing fully well that their activities contribute significantly to the growth and development of the economy of Lagos State,” the statement added.