Drivers of articulated vehicles on Tuesday took to the Lagos-Badagry Bridge to protest alleged extortion by the police, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officials that set up roadblocks to Apapa wharf.
They alleged that they are made to pay humongous amounts as bribe before they can gain entrance to Apapa through the bridge that connects Apapa from Lagos-Badagry Expressway, an eyewitness reports.
Spokesperson of the drivers Danjuma Idris said they were forced to carry placards and protest because “the bribe that they are meant to pay before they are granted access is way too much.”
He said, “We are meant to pay unreceipted amount at every checkpoint before gaining entrance to Apapa through the Iganmu route. Problem is also that there is no fixed amount. It is anything LASTMA working with police and FRSC and civil defence mention that we must pay them on every checkpoint before we get to Apapa. Haba! It is killing. How much are we paid as drivers? The owners don’t even give us money to bribe anyone. It is from our feeding monies and our salary that we pay the bribe. Do they want to kill us? This cannot continue.”
Asked if they have written formally to the authorities to complain, Mr Idris claimed they had done so countless times but that the protest was to remind them the authorities to call the security operatives to order and to dismantle all the illegal roadblocks.
