According to reports, commuters plying the Agbara, Igbo-Elerin/Okoko, and Iyana iba route became stranded yesterday. This was a result of a protest led by commercial drivers against alleged harassment and extortion of Taskforce. The commercial drivers carried demonstration placards with a theme such as “End Task Force wahala”, End Taskforce in Lagos state. This resulted in commercial vehicles not taking one way at Church bus stop, Ojo, along the Badagry expressway.
Chairman of Shuttle Bus Drivers Association identified as Richard Adegboyega stated the road is under construction, he said they previously had to turn at Afro and Okoko, and now the construction company had obstructed the turns. Lagos shuttle drivers within the area alleged colleague passing through Agbara to Igbo-Elerin/ First Gate had to drive to Ojo barracks before they can find a turn and drive back. According to them, plying one-way road leads to impounding of vehicles by Taskforce officials. Taskforce collects between 100,000 to 150 000 in cash whenever vehicles are impounded without issuing a receipt.
They are however calling on the government to intervene. The association admonished the construction company to open the middle lane to allow drivers to connect the turning at the Afro bus stop.
In an interview with the local media, the association chairman, Chibuzor Nwabueze stated Taskforce impound 15 vehicles this week and about 30 last week which was taken to Alausa.
LAGOS CLAMPS DOWN ON CART PUSHERS
In a recent development, the Lagos state government has embarked on eradicating cart pushers’ activities. This is a result of the security risk cart pushers being comprised of members of the public. This development came after Lagos Waste Management Authority LAWMA demolished about 400carts seized from pushers who constantly dump refuse on authorized locations across the state, violating environmental law and the safety of residents.
Commenting on the activity yesterday at LAWMA’s facility at Ogudu, the managing director of the commission identified as Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni stated the exercise became necessary. According to him, it is in place to weaken the ability of cart pushers to return to business and to reduce cart pusher pollution in the city space.
In his words, cart pushers feign a serious threat to society. He stated they pose as a resident security threat to the society as many of them house dangerous weapons such as knives, machetes, arrows, etc to carry out criminal activities. Cart pushers are the community’s biggest threat. According to him, they will get other jobs to do, once they are stopped from pushing carts.
Recall, a cart pusher was tried and jailed last week after he was caught vandalizing and stealing government property along Victoria island.
