LAGOS DRIVERS GO ON STRIKE MONDAY AFTER ACCUSING OLUOMO'S BOYS, THE POLICE, AND LASTMA OF EXTORTION

The announcement was made over the weekend by the collective body of hundreds of commercial bus drivers.

They complained; "indiscriminate extortion and violent harassment" by transport agencies, thugs, the police, and Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).

JDWAN specifically criticized the members of the Lagos State Parks and Garages Management Committee in a statement.

Musiliu Akinsanya, also known as MC Oluomo, a former leader of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, is in charge of the committee (NURTW).

It was established following the Lagos government's decision to suspend the NURTW due to the state's ongoing, deadly confrontations.

The officials remarked that the scenario was a contributing factor to Lagos' rising cost of goods and services.

They requested the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu to investigate the excesses, illegitimate ticketing, and tolling in auto parks, "at almost every bus stop."

The announcement let people know that certain routes include up to 25 bus stops, "which also serve as illegal tax collection avenues."

Aside from park hoodlums who receive N200 or N300 each bus, it was discovered that between N3,500 and N5,000 is paid for the trip from Badagry to Mile 2.

Buses traveling from Yaba to Ikeja cost between N1,300 and N200 at Jibowu, Onipanu, Elediye, and Palmgrove. At Total Bus Stop, Fadeyi, Anthony, and Ikeja, the fare is between N100 and N200.

While returning to Yaba, N500 is paid at Palmgrove and Onipanu, N500 at Fadeyi and Total, N200 at Yaba, and N800 for the Lagos ticket.

"At Seme park, they collect N7,100 in the morning. Federal Mass & Coaster buses pay over N12,000 on each trip from Oko Afo to CMS or to Oyingbo, which includes illegal payments at several bus stops.

"From Ogijo to Ikorodu, we pay over N5,500 per day. Garage Ticket N850, Chairman ticket N1,700, King's levy N200, Ita Oluwo N500, Odogunyan N1,200, lle Epo Oba N200. We also pay N900 for passing by whether you pick up a passenger or not.

"At Ikorodu Roundabout, we pay N1,000 each in the morning and afternoon, and N500 in the evening, which makes it N2,500. At Benson Bus Stop, we pay N900 for a whole day, loading at N300 each for morning, afternoon and evening.

"At Agric Bus Stop, we pay N200 to 8 (N1,600) motor park thugs. It is called 'Welcome to Agric Tax'. When we load passengers, we pay an extra N300 which isn't part of the N1,600. At Aunty Kenny bus stop, we pay N200 before buying Lagos State ticket for N500.

"At Ogolonto bus stop, we pay N100. At Mile 12 bus stop, we pay N500 for plying the expressway and N1,000 for plying service lane (for buses enroute Yaba - Oyingbo). Mile 12 to Ojuelegba buses pay N1,500, while red coaster buses pay N2,000.

"Red buses from Ikorodu to Oshodi pay N5,000 to motor park boys in the morning and afternoon. At Ketu bus stop, we pay between N600 to N1,000, depending on the size of the bus, for just dropping off passengers or picking up any single one.

"We pay N2,000 each in the afternoon and evening, which makes a total of N7,300 daily. Korope plying lyana Iba Okoko to Agbara are paying N5,000 per day to motor park boys without the extra LASTMA & Police Department & Lagos Task Force daily extortion."

According to the statement, when members refuse to be coerced, they are arrested and required to provide the police N10,000 as bail, while the motor park boys escape punishment.

Drivers are also alleged to pay for security, entertainment, the meal of the unit chairman, and other other fees; "with threat of violence at any slight refusal."

Bus drivers shouldn't be required to pay the fare for three passengers after loading at parking lots or parks, according to JDWAN.

They only want to pay for one bus at a time, but only the Lagos government should be able to sell tickets.

The operators claimed that they no longer accepted tickets issued by the Lagos Parks and Garages Committee.

The operators claimed that they no longer accepted tickets issued by the Lagos Parks and Garages Committee.

Additionally, they demand an end to harassment by LASTMA, the Lagos Task Force, and the Police Rapid Response Squad as well as the presence of thugs at bus stops (RRS).

JDWAN asserted they, "collaborate and hire thugs to attack and extort us every day without violating any law."

Next week will be difficult for commuters in Lagos due to a strike by commercial drivers.

There are about 20 million people living in the commercial city, although fewer of them own individual cars.