Ogun Drivers Rally For Government Assistance To Resolve Ongoing Issues

Ogun Drivers Rally For Government Assistance To Resolve Ongoing Issues....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Protesting minibus drivers in Ogun State gathered at the Ministry of Transportation complex in Abeokuta on Tuesday to voice their concerns over alleged extortion and excessive levies imposed by their union executive. They appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun and Commissioner for Transportation Gbenga Dairo for intervention to halt the ongoing harassment and attacks from union officers……CONTINUE READING 

On Monday, the drivers had previously protested along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway against the union executives, expressing that the numerous levies forced upon them had created significant hardship. They reported that the transport union fees had surged from a cumulative daily payment of between N4,000 and N6,000 to between N6,000 and N10,000.

During the protest, drivers presented their grievances to a ministry official, demanding a reversal of the increased levies, elimination of multiple ticket charges, removal of union agents—often referred to as “agberos”—from the expressway, and an end to arbitrary fees like “Owo Chairman,” “Owo King of Boys,” and “Owo Marker.”

Spokesperson Abiodun Owolabi highlighted that the new fee structure would push their daily expenses on union levies to approximately N11,000, exacerbating the financial strain on drivers. He stated, “The cost of operating is becoming unbearable. We collect a ticket at nearly every bus stop, and the total amount we spend daily is affecting our income. We are asking for help from the governor and the commissioner.”

Another driver, Ogunlade Idowu, pointed out the disparity in ticketing practices within the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area, noting that drivers there are subjected to eight tickets, while other areas operate on a single ticket system. “This is especially hard on us given the current economic situation. Why increase fees now?” he questioned.

In response to the drivers’ concerns, a senior official from the Ministry of Transportation acknowledged the issues raised and emphasized the ministry’s commitment to resolving them. The official encouraged the drivers to submit their complaints in writing for appropriate action.

Meanwhile, Tiwalade Akingbade, the Ogun State Secretary of the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria, dismissed the allegations from the drivers as unfounded, claiming any misunderstandings had already been resolved earlier that week.