A yet-to-be-identified bus driver with Eddysons Transport has been accused of charging extra N1,000 from passengers during a Lagos-Enugu trip.

One of the affected passengers, who does not want to be named, told FIJ that he boarded the first bus from Alaba International Market in Lagos on November 8, 2023.

He also noted that although he was to alight in Onitsha, he paid N16,500 as fare at the Lagos terminal that Wednesday.

“To my disbelief, this trip turned out to be a series of unprecedented and unpleasant events,” he disclosed.

READ ALSO: Against Company’s Policy, GUO Transport Driver Takes Extra N2,500 From Passengers After Bus Developed a Fault

According to this passenger, the bus driver abruptly stopped the bus halfway after the Benin bypass. The driver then demanded an additional payment of N1,000 from each of the passengers.

Since there were 57 passengers aboard the luxurious bus, the passenger said, this meant the driver made an additional N57,000 via that extortion.

“This was an unexpected and unjustified demand, as no prior information or explanation was given regarding this extra charge.

“It is disheartening to witness such unprofessional behaviour from a driver representing such a transport company.”

The passenger also revealed that he was surprised to find that the air conditioning (AC) system was not functional. This absence of proper ventilation and cool air, according to him, made the trip unbearable as the stuffy atmosphere inside the bus made it difficult for him and other passengers to enjoy the journey.

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He also said he had called and sent a message to Eddysons to lodge a complaint about his experience but could net get through to the transport company.

Checks by FIJ showed that this is not the first time Eddyson Transport drivers has extorted passengers.

Aloysius Promise made a post on X (formally Twitter) on September 18, where he shared how a driver and a conductor tried to extort extra money from passengers who had already paid their fares.

“Eddyson motors has become something else. After paying N16,600, the driver and conductor still wanted to collect money from passengers again. Eddyson, you have to do something. The motor that left Ihiala on Sunday evening, that driver has [to] be cautioned,” Promise wrote.

Eddyson motors has become something else, after paying 16,600 the driver and conduct still want to collect money from passengers again
Eddyson u have to do something
The motor that left Ihiala on Sunday evening
That driver have be caution https://t.co/CDUNaPxDol

— Aloysius promise (@Aloysiuspromis1) September 18, 2023

Promise’s post was in response to a September 14 video shared by one Vincent Ogbuehi and captioned “Eddyson motor”. In the 39-second video, a male passenger was heard lamenting how a bus driver left passengers stranded in Onitsha.

His words: “This is almost 2 o’clock. No be say we even move early sef. You kept us here by this time of the night. You just dropped us here at Onitsha by this time of the night. We have been here for almost two hours, and your manager here is talking ruubish, telling us that he will bring tout to beat us here. That is what he is saying. He’s saying he will bring tout for us here. I want him to bring that tout. God go punish you for there. Shabi you say we no go move abi.”

‘WE ARE NOT AWARE’

When FIJ called Eddysons Transport on Monday afternoon, an official who introduced herself as Chioma said the company was not aware of the additional N1,000 demanded by the Lagos-Enugu driver. She offered an apology and expressed her committment to putting an end to the extortion.

Chioma said, “We are not aware. That is between driver [and passengers]. If I had got the complaint before now — we had a meeting today — I would have raised it at the meeting because it (what the driver did) is not good. How could somebody give you N250,000 for your gas and you now went behind to start collecting N1,000 each. Do you know that if the bus is full load, that is 51 passengers, that money is N51,000 without company’s consent? But there is no problem. I will call all the managers to tell the drivers to put a stop to it. Please, tell the passenger not to get annoyed. It will not happen again.”