Ogun minibus drivers protest multiple levies, seek gov’s intervention

Minibus drivers, commonly known as ‘Korope’, have staged a protest against the various levies imposed on them by transport union workers, also known as agberos.

These drivers operate along the Mowe-Ibafo-Arepo areas of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and voiced their concerns at the Ministry of Transportation in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.

During the protest, the drivers sang solidarity songs and held placards with messages such as “Korope drivers say no to multiple tickets”, “Governor Abiodun come to our aid”, “Say no to extortion”, and “Agberos are killing us with multiple levies”.

They expressed their dissatisfaction with the current hardship, stating that these levies are worsening their economic difficulties. One protester, Abiodun Owolabi, said they are required to pay about eight tickets amounting to approximately N8,000 every day. He highlighted the continuous increase in ticket prices, which are collected at almost every bus stop or kilometre along the route of about 10 kilometres from Mowe to Arepo or Simawa.

The drivers believe that the increase in ticket prices is impacting their daily income negatively. They alleged that when they confronted the agberos, they were told that the order for the increase came from the Ministry of Transportation.

One of the drivers, Moses Prosper, shared that he has been left without a job due to the hike in levies and appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun for assistance. He explained that the financial burden has become too much for him to bear, affecting his ability to provide for his family.

The protesting drivers called for a single ticket issuance to cover their entire trip and expressed hope that Governor Abiodun could assist them in achieving this.

They stressed the need for government intervention and requested the removal of agberos from the road. An official from the ministry advised the drivers to formalise their complaint by writing a letter to the commissioner. The official assured the drivers that the commissioner would address their concerns if they are presented formally.