Commercial drivers operating in the Mowe-Ibafo-Arepo axis of Ogun State took to the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Monday to protest against the multiple levies imposed on them by transport union workers, locally known as Agberos. The drivers, mostly minibus operators, say the extortion by the union has become unbearable and is threatening their livelihoods.
One of the drivers, Moses Ademoyegun, spoke to PUNCH Online, explaining the toll that these excessive levies have taken on his income. “The extortion from the Agberos has become unbearable. Today, we woke up to news that the ticket fees have increased again. Bus stops where we used to pay N100 are now charging N200, and those where we paid N500 have been hiked to N700,” he said.
According to Ademoyegun, the rising cost of union levies, coupled with the ongoing economic challenges, has made it difficult for him to sustain his household. “I spend no less than N100,000 on fuel every week, and passengers are unwilling to pay higher fares to cover these costs. My children have been forced out of school because I can no longer afford their fees,” he lamented.
During the protest, drivers revealed that they were previously required to pay a cumulative union levy of N4,000 per day, but this amount was unexpectedly increased to N6,000 on Monday. The drivers stressed that the increase comes at a time when the cost of vehicle parts and fuel prices have already skyrocketed, further compounding their struggles.
Another driver, Joseph, called on Governor Dapo Abiodun to intervene in the situation. He pleaded for the government to help drivers by reining in the transport union executives and curbing the imposition of arbitrary fees. “The Agberos offer no benefits to us drivers, yet they harass and even damage our vehicles if we refuse to pay. We are begging the governor to put an end to this extortion,” Joseph stated.
The protest, which disrupted traffic on the busy expressway, highlights the frustration among drivers over the growing financial burden caused by union fees. They hope the state government will take swift action to resolve the issue and provide relief to those affected.
Further details to follow…
