Commuters stranded as Lagos commercial drivers embark on strike
Stranded commuters at Toyota Bus Stop, yesterday PHOTO: AYODELE ADENIRAN
• Association tasks government to obey a court order
Lagos commuters were stranded yesterday, following the commencement of a seven-day strike announced by commercial bus drivers in the state.
The drivers under the aegis of the Joint Drivers Welfare Association of Nigeria (JDWAN), had threatened to embark on protest and boycott services across the state over multiple and excessive extortions by the management of parks and garages in the state.
According to the association, the seven-day boycott would start on Monday, October 31 and end on November 6, 2022.
Many residents, who thought it was a mere threat, woke up to the reality of the boycott as they stayed at various bus stops for over an hour without commercial buses, while few available ones increased their fares.
Also, some commuters were seen trekking to various destinations.
The experience was more noticeable in the hinterlands of Ikotun, Egbeda, Iyana Ipaja, Agege, Oshodi and parts of Ikeja.
At the Ikotun axis, it was observed that many commuters were stranded as there were fewer vehicles running commercial services on the routes.
The situation was the same at Satellite, Amuwo Odofin major bus stops along Ogba-Berger road, such as Aguda, college road.
Also, Ijaiye and Abule Egba bus stops in Ijaiye-Ojokoro as well as Council and College areas of the Ijaiye-Ojokoro and Alimosho Local Councils had stranded commuters waiting for buses to convey them to their places of work.
The few buses on the ground capitalised on the situation to jerk up fares as commuters pay more to get to their destinations.
Subsequently, transport fare from Council Bus Stop in Ikotun axis to Iyana Ipaja roundabout was hiked from N200 to N400.
At the Egbeda axis, transport fares were increased by an additional N200 on all routes. At Cele junction, the situation was the same
Transport fare from Ijaiye to Oshodi, which normally cost N400 was increased to N700, while those going to Agege paid N400 instead of N200.
Transport fare to Mile 2 from Oshodi which was normally N300 was increased to N500, while a bus drive from Oshodi to Toyota was hiked to N200 from N100.
However, the situation was milder at other major bus stops in the Ikorodu, Ketu, and Mile 12 areas of Lagos as a result of low compliance by commercial drivers to the strike call.
MEANWHILE, many commercial bus drivers plying Oshodi, Iyana Ipaja, and Ile-Epo routes ignored the strike directive as they continued their daily transport activities. Some of them at Iyana Ipaja and Ile-Epo said they were not aware of the strike.
Reacting, one of the leaders of JDWAN, Akintade Abiodun, said: “What we have done is that we have instructed all our members to stay at home. Our bus is our property. We can decide when and if we want to go out. If you have seen that the environment is not conducive, you can decide to stay at home. That is how it is.”
Speaking on why some commercial drivers are still working while the strike was on, he said: “In that aspect, you cannot rule it out, not every driver sees this problem as we see it.
“We can only be together if you, I or whoever sees this problem as we see it. If you are not with us, we cannot say you should not go to work. You know we are not violent people and we are law-abiding citizens. It will be insane if few people are working and we the association go and block roads.
“Like I said, we are open to dialogue. It is not our wish to put commuters under this type of stress and hardship. What we are telling the Lagos State government is that, there is a court order, let the Lagos State government obey that court order. If it had obeyed the court order, all these things would not have happened.”
Also, JDWAN, in a statement by its lawyer, Ayo Ademiluyi, yesterday, said it had been subjected to indiscriminate extortion and violent harassment by the management of parks and garages in the state.
The statement reads 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 extortion 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 spiralled astronomically in Lagos State as a result of the effect of motor parks excessive and illegal ticketing and tolling at almost every bus stop.”
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