Badagry commuters stranded as drivers protest Lagos govt levy increase

Commercial vehicle drivers in the Badagry area of Lagos State have protested against the newly introduced N800 levy imposed on buses and cars by the state government.

Angered by the increase in the levy from N500 to N800, the drivers decided to embark on an industrial action and vowed not go back to the road unless the Lagos State Government reversed the levy.

The strike by the commercial vehicle drivers has rendered many passengers stranded around Badagry roundabout, Mowo, Aradagun and Agbara areas of the state.

Chairman, Ebute-Ero-Seme (18-passenger bus), said, Jim Feyisayo, “Most of us have been pushed to the wall now because of series of extortion by touts and police at different checkpoints.

“Paying the N500 levy by the government is not easy for us. But to our surprise, the levy was increased to N800 on Thursday; this is too much for us.

“From the middle of last year, it was fuel increase; then from three checkpoints, the police increased to over 10 and we have to drop at least N100 at each checkpoint.

“Most of the drivers cannot boast of going home at the end of the day with N1,000 after the daily delivery to the vehicle owner.

“We are appealing to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to come to our aid by reducing the levy to its former N500. The levy should not be from one bus stop to another. Let it be in one bus stop only. Things are very hard now and everyone is finding it difficult to survive.”

Mr Ismaila  Adewuyi, a driver plying Igbo Elerin to Badagry, urged the government to reduce the levy for the sake of the masses.

“For the past few days now, passengers have been stranded on the road due to the protest by our members due to this new levy. The only available means of transportation, commercial motorcyclists known as Okada, have also doubled their fares and this is telling on the passengers.

“We are begging the government to rescind the decision. If not, the drivers will not go back to work in the Badagry area; we cannot be working for touts at every bus stop.”

Adewuyi also cautioned touts working for the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) to stop vandalising commercial vehicles under the guise of collecting levy.