Ambode bashed as Lagos chases inter state transporters off Lagos highway

Lagos State government was on Saturday severely bashed and condemned by stakeholders as it began implementing a new policy banning inter-state transporters from operating along the Ikorodu road axis.

Very early on Saturday morning, mobile policemen in several trucks were drafted to the area blocking the entrances to the premises of the transport companies located mostly at the Jibowu end of the long stretch of road.

The policemen prevented vehicles from driving in or out of the premises of the transporters. Inquiries on the rationale for the actions was only met with replies of ‘order from above’.

Many travelers, especially bound for the south east parts of the country were left stranded as they could not undertake their trips due to the action of the policemen, who it was learnt were acting under the directive of the state government.

The Lagos state government had early last week issued a directive to the transporters banning them from using the Ikorodu road.

Read also: OSINBAJO: FG in talks with private sector for more ports

The government warned them to restrict their operations from going beyond Ojodu Berger and Ojota Motor Parks.

The Akinkunmi Ambode-led administration had also issued a seven-day ultimatum to the operators to relocate to the designated inter-state motor parks at Ojodu Berger and Ojota, after which stiff sanctions would apply to defaulters.

The State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, said the decision of the government was in line with the determination of Governor Ambode’s administration to free the city of avoidable nuisances and install sanity and civility in the environment.

“Henceforth, they will have to go to Ojota and Ojodu Berger which are the two designated inter-state motor parks. The ones that we have here in Jibowu will have to move and there is a 7-day ultimatum for everyone of them beginning from the ones in this axis to move,” Ayorinde said.

Many operators were affected by the early morning action as their buses and passengers were prevented from leaving their parks, including Peace Mass Transit, GIGM.com which only recently opened its ultra-modern terminal in the area, Young Shall Grow, Chisco Transport and GUO Transport among others.

While the transporters lamented their loss of revenue, the stranded passengers also cried out about the policy which they said seemed targeted at a particular tribe from a part of the country.

An operator who spoke to Ripples Nigeria on condition of anonymity for fear of being victimized, said, “this does not make sense. How do you just wake up and implement policies that will kill legitimate businesses. There was no sort of consultations, or even relating with us to ensure that we are not adversely affected by such a policy.

“It’s even insulting for the government to tag us as a nuisance on this stretch of road. Look at the massive investments made by these transporters here, running into billions of naira to modernize the process of providing transport services.

“The government cannot also deny that we’ve been good corporate citizens of the state. Apart from our modern terminals, which give the area a facelift, we also pay taxes, yet they just wake up one morning and want to kill our businesses. This is very wrong. It’s not what governance is all about.

“We have lost millions of naira in just these few hours they prevented our buses from leaving. If this continues, it simply means the investments here will go to waste, and the staff will have to be laid off”, he lamented.

On allegations by the state government that activities of the operators had not been tidy and decent despite repeated warnings, another operator said it was a lie.

“He said, it is very wrong for the government to generalize in that way. Some of the operators here have organized terminals, and conduct their business without spilling it into the road. Everything is confined to their terminal as they have ample space.”

“If some are constituting themselves into a nuisance, government has regulatory agencies that can address such issues, instead of bringing down their hammer on everyone. It’s being very insensitive, and inhumane, he stated.

A passenger who simply gave his name as Dave also lamented how he was left stranded, and could not continue his trip for the day.

“I’m going to Port Harcourt, and I’ve already bought a ticket. But they say they can’t go again because of the policemen who have blocked their gates. I don’t understand this. Are the transporters not conducting legitimate business? Is it not the same government that gave them approvals before they put these massive investments here?

“This place is very convenient for me because I stay around Surulere. If I have to travel today again, it means I have to start going towards Ojota, and those parks are sometimes rowdy, and because of the time wasted it may be late before the bus gets to Port Harcourt. So I don’t want to take that risk”.

Another stranded passenger who gave her name as Chzoba suggested that the policy was targeted at killing businesses of people from the south east to provide partronage for some political associates.

“I don’t see what they are doing as meaningful. It’s just a plot to chase out Igbos from the area. These inter-state transport business is mostly run by Igbos. In fact, only Igbos run the luxurious bus transport business.

“I’m sure the so called parks they want them to use in Ojota and Berger is owned by their political associates. Can these parks take these luxury buses? I’m not sure government thought this through before jumping to implement. Ambode should do a rethink on this, it will only kill these businesses and throw more people into the already crowded unemployment market”, she stated.

However, checks by Ripples Nigeria showed that inter-state transporters operating from other parts of the state were not affected by the policy, as they were seen going about their normal business.

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now