Commuters in Lagos State face renewed disruptions as commercial drivers threaten to take to the streets again to protest against alleged extortion from park boys and officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).
Quest Times gathered that drivers under the aegis of the Joint Drivers’ Welfare Association of Nigeria (JDWAN) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) have expressed frustration over the persistent issue of extortion, despite previous promises from authorities to address the matter.
Adelaja, a member of JDWAN who spoke with newsmen, recounted his experience of having his vehicle seized around Costain and being forced to pay N32,000 to retrieve it.
“As I’m talking to you, (I just retrieved) my vehicle seized around Costain. The driver that went to get it for me paid N32,000. They also use thugs,” he said.
He also highlighted the involvement of “agberos” (local touts) in the extortion racket.
JDWAN’s General Secretary, Ajimatanarareje Fesisayo, emphasized the lack of progress in resolving the issue despite discussions with relevant stakeholders. He warned of a more significant protest if the situation is not rectified.
“Anybody who comes to the Badagry route will see that there is no difference yet. What is pressing now is the issue of LASTMA. When they see buses, it’s as if they have seen Automated Teller Machines. They will just block vehicles at times saying the driver waited and picked passengers. We don’t know why. When it happens like that, they don’t demand small money. It’s like the money goes to their pocket and not the government’s pocket,” Fesisayo stated.
He added, “The next protest is going to be massive.”
Drivers in Berger and Ogba areas echoed similar sentiments, expressing their fatigue with the ongoing extortion.
One driver, identified as Akeem Mustapha, urged the government to intervene and curb LASTMA’s excessive actions.
“We are tired. The government should check LASTMA activities. Why should they be blocking drivers everywhere for even the slightest things?,” Mustapha said.
In response to the drivers’ allegations, LASTMA spokesperson Adebayo Taofiq acknowledged the challenges posed by reckless and non-compliant drivers. He maintained that LASTMA’s actions are guided by state laws and cannot be altered solely based on the drivers’ demands.
Taofiq clarified that the recent meeting with government representatives and stakeholders aimed to address the drivers’ concerns and explore potential solutions within the framework of existing laws.
He emphasized that some of the drivers’ requests, such as exempting them from traffic checks on weekends and prohibiting the use of cameras, are contrary to established regulations.
“I want to state categorically that no responsible government will tolerate the recklessness and uncalled-for attitudes of the commercial drivers particularly in the Agege/Dopemu area,” he said.
Regarding the alleged extortions and hefty fines, Taofiq explained that the authority to issue such penalties lies with the state mobile court, operating within the legal framework.
Also, the Permanent Secretary at the state’s Ministry of Transportation, Wale Musa, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing the drivers’ concerns while ensuring adherence to traffic regulations.
“We have a law that governs everybody. It’s just like saying the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should not work.”
He encouraged drivers to report any instances of misconduct by LASTMA officials for prompt action, while indicating that efforts are underway to fully comprehend the remaining pertinent issues raised by the drivers.