Commerical drivers plying the Oshodi-Tollgate route in Lagos State have embarked on a strike over increasing taxes levied on them by the agberos.

FIJ gathered that the drivers are protesting against the agbero taxes which increased from N20,000 per day to N25,500 yesterday.

One of the drivers told FIJ that the agberos keep burdening the drivers to pay the illegal taxes.

READ ALSO: Over Agberos’ Excesses, Lagos Commercial Drivers to Boycott Roads From Monday

“The agberos are extorting us. They are making life unbearable for us with their taxes,” he said.

“Usually, we pay only N20,000 daily, but yesterday, they increased it to N25,000. They said we had to pay extra N5000 in Iyana Ipaja daily and another N500 in Agbado.

“We are not working today because we’ve had it up to our throats.”

Another driver stated that whenever drivers refused to pay, the agberos would destroy their vehicles.

“The illegal taxes levied by the agberos are mandatory. No one dares not to pay because failure to pay could result in your vehicle being destroyed. They would remove your door and you would get nothing for it,” he said.

“The imposition is worse from Iyana Ipaja to Agbado Ijaiye. You have to pay N1,800 and N2,500 respectively in the morning when you’re going out. In the afternoon and evening, there are other levies to be paid too. These taxes are not even fixed; they vary based on the commands of the agbero lords.

“Unlike in Oshodi where the levy has been consistent for the past five years, the guys in Agbado Ijaiye are lawless, and they misbehave anyhow.

READ ALSO: REPORTER’S DIARY: In Lagos, Drivers Work, But Agberos Earn

“One of their leaders, Fashola, when he heard about our strike action, ordered his boys to fight us. It is so bad and tiring.

“The agberos intimidate us because they think we’re helpless.”

One of the drivers also said even if they set out to work in the afternoon, the agberos would demand that they complete taxes for the day.

“Every day, there’s a new levy to be paid,” he told FIJ.

“How much would the drivers and conductors take home? Even if we work in the afternoon or evening they would demand we pay complete levies for the day.”