On Tuesday, minibus drivers in Ogun State staged a protest at the Ministry of Transportation complex in Abeokuta, voicing their grievances over alleged extortion and excessive levies imposed by their union leaders. They called on Governor Dapo Abiodun and Commissioner for Transportation Gbenga Dairo to step in and put an end to the ongoing harassment and mistreatment from union officials.
Drivetvnews Reports indicate that the drivers had previously demonstrated along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Monday, expressing their discontent with the transport union executives. They highlighted the burdensome multiple levies imposed by union workers, commonly referred to as “agberos,” which have caused significant financial strain.
The drivers explained that the daily fees they were required to pay to the transport union had risen from a range of N4,000 to N6,000 to between N6,000 and N10,000. During the protest, they presented their demands to a ministry representative, seeking the reversal of the increased levies, elimination of multiple ticket charges, and restrictions on agberos to designated areas, among other requests.
Abiodun Owolabi, a spokesperson for the drivers, emphasized that the new fees could result in daily payments reaching N11,000, exacerbating their financial difficulties. He remarked, “We have numerous complaints about the exorbitant rise in ticket prices. They continue to increase the costs almost weekly. We pay for tickets at every stop within a one-kilometer stretch. The route we cover daily is approximately 10 kilometers from Mowe to Arepo, leading us to collect about eight tickets.”
He added, “When we tally our expenses on levies, it totals around N8,000 daily, and with the new increases, that figure rises to approximately N11,000. Our earnings are minimal, while our expenses are excessive. This directly impacts our daily income, and we are urging the governor and commissioner to assist us.”
Another driver, Ogunlade Idowu, pointed out that unlike other local government areas where only a single ticket is required, drivers in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area face the burden of purchasing eight tickets. “This is a federal road, so why are they complicating our lives? Given the current economic climate, is now the right time to raise ticket fees?” he questioned.
In response to the drivers’ complaints, a senior official from the Ministry of Transportation, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed the ministry’s concern over the issues raised and assured that they would be addressed. He encouraged the protesting drivers to submit their complaints in writing so the ministry could take appropriate action.
“We are aware of your concerns and take them seriously. As the regulatory body, it is our duty to investigate these matters. Please provide your grievances in writing for us to proceed,” the official stated.
Meanwhile, Tiwalade Akingbade, Secretary of the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria in Ogun State, dismissed the drivers’ claims as unfounded. He noted that there had been a misunderstanding between the union and the drivers, which had been resolved at a police station earlier on Monday.
