Lagos Bus Drivers Strike Over Alleged Extortion, Commuters Stranded

Iyana-Ipaja–Iyana-Iba Corridor Paralysed as Drivers Protest Alleged Police, LASTMA and Union Levies

Commercial bus drivers operating along the busy Iyana-Ipaja–Iyana-Iba corridor in Lagos on Monday withdrew their services in protest against what they described as persistent extortion by enforcement officials and transport union agents.

The strike disrupted movement along the major transport corridor, leaving hundreds of commuters stranded at bus stops and forcing many to trek long distances in search of alternative means of transportation.

Some passengers reportedly resorted to tricycles and private vehicles, with fares said to have increased significantly amid the shortage of commercial buses.

Drivers who spoke during the protest alleged that they face multiple daily payments to officials and union agents, which they claimed have placed considerable financial pressure on their operations.

They accused personnel from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Nigeria Police Force, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) of demanding various levies and payments.

One of the protesting drivers said the situation had become unsustainable.

“We spend more than half of our daily earnings just settling officers and union touts on every trip. If you refuse to pay, they seize your vehicle or break your side mirror. We can no longer feed our families with what is left.”

The drivers’ action resulted in unusually low numbers of commercial buses at major loading points along the route, leaving commuters waiting for extended periods.

The protesters are demanding an end to what they described as multiple and unauthorised charges, insisting that the cost of daily operations has become too high for drivers to remain profitable.

As of Monday morning, neither the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation nor the leadership of the transport unions had publicly issued a statement addressing the reported strike and the allegations made by the drivers.

The development has renewed concerns over the impact of multiple enforcement activities and informal levies on public transportation in Lagos, where millions of residents rely heavily on commercial buses for daily commuting.