Categories: EKO NEWS

Lagos Drivers Still Suffer Extortion Despite Suspension

Comissioner Of Police Threatens To Deal Ruthlessly With Any Individual Or Group That Attempts To Take Laws Into Their Hands

government unaware agbero are still operating

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EKO HOTBLOG reports that Members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) continue to operate at motor parks and garages in Lagos State despite the suspension of its activities by the state government.

Checks at various parks revealed that touts, popularly known as agbero, who now operate in mufti, have continued to extort drivers of commercial vehicles.

The Lagos State Government, on March 9, 2022, announced the suspension of the activities of NURTW in the state. The suspension followed a crisis that rocked the union in recent times.

The Lagos chapter of NURTW, led by Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, about a month ago, broke away from the national body of the union when he was suspended over misconduct, insubordination and inciting members of the state chapter against the apex body.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, also threatened to deal ruthlessly with anyone or group of people who might want to take laws into their hands.

Mr Alabi was reacting to an alleged plan by members of NURTW to protest the suspension of its activities by the state government.

However, findings revealed that members of the union have continued to operate in parks and garages, as well as along access roads to the seaports.

A truck driver, Sule Danladi, lamented how members of NURTW at Iyana-Iba vandalised the windscreen and side mirror of his truck.

Danladi said, “ Usually, the hoodlums, wearing reflective jackets, station themselves on the roads. You either get beaten up for refusing to pay or your vehicle is vandalised. There are about five roadblocks from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko, and at every point you are forced to pay N1,000.

“Drivers are at no one’s mercy as security operatives look the other way. This is why the prices of foodstuff are skyrocketing.”

Another truck driver, Tokunbo Oyeleye, said the menace of the urchins was becoming unbearable, noting that they pounced on drivers, using their numbers as weapon of intimidation.

Oyeleye further said, “Different teams operate at Mile 2. There are over five extortion points between Mile 2 and Tin-Can. Each point collects a minimum of N1,000. We learnt that part of the money collected is given to security men on duty.

“They demand ‘security money (Owo Olopa)’, park chairman’s money and all manners of money.”

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotosho, in an interview with Daily Trust, said the suspension of the activities of the union was still in place.

He said the state was not aware that members of the union were operating in any park or garage in the state.

When asked if the state government engaged the services of members of NURTW to collect the consolidated levy, he said there was a task force management committee saddled with the responsibility.

Mr Omotosho explained that, “The suspension has not been lifted; it is still in place. We are not aware that they are operating in any park or garage. The state will soon make its position known on this issue.”

However, an aide to MC Oluomo, Jimoh Buhari, reiterated that the tickets being sold at the parks and garages were of the state government of N800.

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Buhari said, “We have stated this time without number that the ticket being sold belongs to the state government, and that is N800. I am not aware of any other charge.”

Even with the ban, “Nothing has changed,” said a driver at a park in Ojota who did not want his name in print.

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Adebayo Gbenga