Commuters Stranded At Bus Stops, Parks In Lagos As Commercial Drivers Protest Extortion By Government Agencies

Thousands of commuters in Lagos were stranded at bus stops and parks on Monday as commercial drivers commenced a protest against extortion by government agencies.

 

The commercial drivers had accused the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and others of extorting them in the course of doing their work.

 

SaharaReporters earlier reported that the state police command had a meeting with stakeholders to discuss the proposed protest by public transport drivers scheduled for Monday.

 

At the meeting attended by the leadership of the police command and executives of the Lagos State Government, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), germane issues and concerns raised by the drivers were critically looked into.

The stakeholders, at the conclusion of the meeting, agreed to work together to ensure obedience to all traffic laws on the part of the transporters and the checkmating of excesses of law enforcement officers within the state. In addition, the NURTW agreed to a larger meeting on Monday, November 13, 2023.

 

The attendees included Deputy Commissioners of Police Waheed Ayilara (SCID), Fatai Tijani (Operations), Khan Salihu (Administration), Commander Rapid Response Squad (RRS) – CSP Yinka Egbeyemi, Commander Taskforce – CSP Shola Jejeloye.

 

Others are Honourable Sola Giwa – the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr Bolaji Oreagba – General Manager, LASTMA, delegates of NURTW Lagos chapter led by Alhaji Sulyman Ojora (Kudeti) among others.

 

The state police command said it had made adequate deployments in line with prioritising public safety and security. It encouraged members of the public to go about their lawful duties without fear of harassment or intimidation.