Rita Odafe
Commercial drivers in Ogun State’s Mowe-Ibafo-Arepo regions demonstrated on Monday against the excessive levies enforced by transport union officials, commonly referred to as Agberos.
Many of the protesting drivers, primarily minibus operators, expressed their dissatisfaction regarding the soaring daily fees, which have significantly impacted their financial stability.
They reported that the daily union fee has been raised from ₦4,000 to ₦6,000 as of Monday, exacerbating their struggles with the rising costs of fuel and vehicle maintenance.
Moses Ademoyegun, a driver who spoke to PUNCH Online, lamented that the ongoing exploitation by the Agberos has made it nearly impossible for him to make ends meet. The heightened fees have even forced him to withdraw his children from school due to his decreasing income.
He remarked, “The situation with the Agberos has become unbearable. Today, we learned that the ticket prices increased again. Stops that charged ₦100 are now ₦200, and those at ₦500 have surged to ₦700.
“I spend at least ₦100,000 on fuel per week, and passengers are reluctant to pay enough to cover these costs. I can’t even pay my children’s school fees because my earnings have plummeted.”
Another driver, Joseph, shared similar sentiments, calling on the Ogun State government to intervene and remedy the issue. He voiced his discontent with the union leaders, stating that drivers receive no tangible benefits in exchange for the myriad fees imposed upon them.
“We endure a lot under the Agberos, who provide no assistance to us. If you refuse to comply, they threaten to damage your vehicle,” Joseph added. “We are urging Governor Abiodun to step in and stop this extortion.”
