Many stranded in Lagos as commercial drivers protest extortion

Many commuters, as well as schoolchildren,in Lagos got stranded yesterday as commercial bus drivers under the aegis of the Joint Drivers’ Welfare Association of Nigeria, JDWAN,down tools.

According to  PUNCH Metro, the group embarked on the strike in protest against the exorbitant and numerous fees imposed on its members by the Lagos State Parks and Garages Committee under the leadership of Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo.

Consequently, schoolchildren, civil servants, business owners and other commuters trekked for several hours to get to their destinations.

And sensing an opportunity, other transport services, like  Keke Maruwa and minibuses called korope hiked the transport fares by as much as 100%.

While some commuters aborted their plans over the situation, others resorted to trekking.

A few commuters were seen boarding the available buses despite the increased fares.

A stranded commuter in the Igando area of the state, Angus Nwanaeka, said he canceled his appointment due to the crowd struggling to board the few available vehicles.

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He said, “I woke very early today because I had an appointment at Victoria Island but the crowd at the Igando Bus Stop was massive and I had no opportunity to board a bus. I had to reschedule my appointment.”

A security officer, Oluwafemi Joshua, while lamenting the unavailability of vehicles at Iyana Ipaja, said he had to trek from the bus stop to his destination in the Egbeda area of the state.

“The transportation fare is too high; from Iyana-Ipaja to Iyana-Oba is N700. I had to trek all the way to Egbeda,” Joshua said.

Another stranded commuter, Elizabeth Okoro, said she was not aware that commercial buses were going on strike.

“I am not against the drivers fighting for their rights because the taxes they pay daily is too much, but they should also consider us. We have to be at our workplaces on time and we rely so much on them,” she added.