Lagos Commercial Bus Drivers Lament again about the High-Handedness of LASTMA

Lagos commercial bus drivers, under the aegis of the Joint Drivers Welfare Association of Nigeria (JDWAN), have again cried out, over continuous extortions and seizure of buses belonging to its members by officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).

According to the drivers’ group, the Lagos state government is yet to fulfil its promises to stop extortion and violent attack on commercial drivers.

Earlier on Monday, November 7, the JDWAN after a week-long strike and absence from Lagos roads, in the bid to air its grievances called off its industrial action.

This came after their meeting with the Chairman of Lagos State Parks and Garages Management, Musiliu Akinsanya (aka MC Oluomo).

However, the group has cried out that its demands are yet to be met. The added that the enforcement of the directive given to LASTMA to impound unpainted vehicles is the newest struggle its members are facing.

JDWAN, in a statement signed by its National Leader, Abiodun Akintade, yesterday said attacks on its members and extorsions are yet to seize.

Akintade lamented that a member’s windscreen was broken Wednesday morning because of alleged N500 extortion from the state caretaker committee members on his way to mile 2.

“While we await the Lagos State Government to fulfil its promises to stop extortion and violent attack on commercial drivers after the recent drivers strike, Yesterday (Tuesday), November 8, 2022, one of our members, a Mazda bus driver named Samson Adewunmi was attacked at Volks bus stop by Lagos State caretaker committee members formerly known as the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, on his way to mile 2, around 7 am in the morning over N500 illegal extortion.

“His windscreen was broken, he was beaten and macheted, which left two deep gashes on his head, currently in a coma at the hospital and we hope he survives it,” JDWAN stated. He also sharing a gory picture of Adewunmi with several injuries on the head.

The JDWAN leader expressed sadness at an alleged seizure of 50 buses belonging to its members yesterday by LASTMA officials over what he described as the state’s “new” yellow bus policy.

Akintade noted that “This morning, Wednesday, November 9, 2022, LASTMA seized over 50 of our buses because of the new yellow bus policy which came to public notice three days ago.“

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Lagos Commercial Bus Drivers Lament again about the High-Handedness of LASTMA