The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, has urged the Lagos State government to engage in immediate dialogue with commercial drivers who have threatened to stage a seven-day mass protest in the state.
Lagos drivers, under the auspices of the Joint Drivers Welfare Association of Nigeria, had threatened a road boycott beginning October 31, 2022, in response to alleged extortion by motor park and garage management led by Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo.
JDWAN’s National Leader, Chairman, Secretary, and Assistant Secretary, Akintade Abiodun, Opeyemi Suleiman, Ajimatanarareje Feyisayo, and Taofeek Hassan, issued a statement on Friday, October 21, calling for a seven-day mass protest and total boycott to put an end to what it called excessive extortion and harassment of drivers at various bus stops, garages, and parks in Lagos, and urging the government to
They listed the locations of alleged extortion as Badagry, Mile 2, Seme, Ogijo, Ikorodu, Ikeja, Agric Bus Stop, and many other parts of the state, claiming that they pay as much as N5,000 and N7,100 at various 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, CACOL, in a statement signed by Tola Oresanwo, the anti-corruption organization’s Director, Administration and Programmes on behalf of its Chairman, Mr. Debo Adeniran, backed the commercial drivers’ seven-day strike.
CACOL stated that it is instructive to note that multiple and excessive extortion from Lagos drivers has been the norm over the years.
It emphasized that the most intriguing aspect of the extortion was that the money collected from the drivers had not been accounted for by relevant government agencies.
“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.