Many commuters are stranded in Lagos State on Monday as commercial bus drivers commenced a seven-day strike.
Many commuters were forced to trek and struggle for the few available means of transportation in the wee hours of today.
The commercial bus driver’s strike is due to the alleged extortion by the men of motor parks and garages management in the State.
The commercial drivers in Nigeria’s economic nerve center, Lagos State, under the umbrella of the Joint Drivers Welfare Association Of Nigeria (JDWAN), had declared a 7-day boycott of transport services in protest against arbitrary levies imposed on members by the State government.
According to the Association, the seven-day boycott would start on Monday, October 31, and end on November 6, 2022.
In a statement by the group (JDWAN) Lawyer, Ayo Ademiluyi said it had been subjected to indiscriminate extortion and violent harassment by the management of parks and garages in the state.
The statement read in part, “As commercial drivers in Lagos State under the aegis of JDWAN, we are left with no choice than to embark on seven days of protest and boycott of services over multiple and excessive extortions by the management of parks and garages in the state.
“We have notified members of the public and the Lagos State Government over multiple and excessive extortions by the motor parks and garages management.
“The cost of transportation affects the cost of goods and services and consequently the cost of living, which has spiraled astronomically in Lagos State as a result of the effect of motor parks excessive and illegal ticketing and tolling at almost every bus stop.”
The group alleged that its members lost half of their income to motor park ticketing, stating that they got arrested whenever they refused to pay for the tickets.
“No to charging drivers three passengers money after loading in parks or garages; we kick against paying motor park thugs at every bus stop; harassment of law enforcement agencies & intimidation with guns, cutlasses, broken bottles by LASTMA, task force and RRS must end immediately; we demand that the Lagos State Government should provide official bus stops in each community to avoid incessant arrests and stress for commuters who complain of having to trek several kilometers back to their bus stops.”
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