Lagos drivers, under the aegis of Joint Drivers Welfare Association of Nigeria, have 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.