Commuters, school children stranded as Lagos danfo drivers’ strike enters day 2

Business and human activities in Lagos State were paralysed on Monday as commercial bus drivers, under the aegis of the Joint Drivers’ Welfare Association of Nigeria, JDWAN, commenced a seven-day strike, after its meeting with Lagos State government ended in a deadlock.

However, as the strike enters day 2, schoolchildren, civil servants, business owners and other commuters trekked for several hours to get to their destinations.

Also, other transporters, commercial tricycles, known as Keke Marwa and minibuses called Korope, took advantage of the strike and hiked transport fares by 100 per cent.

JDWAN had directed other bodies, such as Ibile Drivers Stakeholders Association of Nigeria, DSWAN; Mega City Drivers Welfare Association of Nigeria, MCDWA; Federal Assisted Mass Transit Incorporation, FAMTI; Owners, Drivers and Conductors Association, ODCA; Commercial Bus Drivers and Owners Operators of Lagos, CBDOP and Mini Bus Drivers Welfare Association, MNDWA, to comply with the strike.

The aggrieved transporters had urged the state government to stop extortion of their members at bus stops by agberos.

The protesting drivers alleged extortion by men of motor parks and garages management, miscreants and government officials in the state.

JDWAN’s National Leader, Akintade Abiodun, said some representatives of the association had met with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Abdulhafiz Toriola, and Parks Management Liaison Officer, Mr Hakeem Odumosu, in company of JDWAN’s Legal Adviser, Mr Ayo Ademiluyi.

He noted that the essence of the meeting was defeated by the threat messages received by the drivers .

Some areas showed compliance to the strike by danfo drivers while other operators were seen doing their businesses without any resistance from the union members.

Meanwhile, some stranded commuters were also seen trekking to their destinations.

Many drivers gathered in clusters discussing the development, while others engaged in their normal activities.

Areas monitored include Igando, Ikotun, Isheri and Egbeda in Alimosho Local Government Area of the state.

At Ikotun, there was a beehive of activities as danfo, Keke Marwa and Korope drivers carried out their normal activities but with fare hike.

A journey which ought to cost N200 attracted N300 fare, while that of N100 was increased to N200.

However, commuters who could not afford the exorbitant transport fares by Keke Marwa and Korope operators, resorted to patronising Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, as they stormed the terminals in large number.