Mile 2- Badagry now 6k, as drivers embark on strike

Since last week Thursday, there have been complaints from commuters over a strike action embarked upon by drivers of the Mile 2- Badagry road. The commuters expressed their daily frustrations on the road, ranging from the deadly potholes, gridlocks, retarded manner of the project works, police, customs and Immigration Officers wahala, and now strike action. 

But in our efforts to ascertain the true case of the situation, The Social Watch, gathered that drivers see the strike action as the only way to make their grievances and internal pains known to the public, owing to the high levies imposed on them compulsorily by the National Union of Road Transport Workers, (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and the one million police checkpoints, which must all take from the money. 

One Wese said that "after loading in the park, you will forfeit four passengers money to the NURTW and RTEAN boys, after which payments will be made to others who are hanging on every bustop till you get to Badagry. 

Aside theirs, the police is another parasite, who do not care whether the host lives fine or not. They demand 200 Naira from cars while 500 on busses. By the time we comply to all this, and buy fuel, nothing is left for us to take home for our family."

Recounting the effects, residents of the axis lament saying " no  more vehicles. If any driver tries to act like a good boy, his other colleagues will damage his car to stop him from loading. Our only hope of transportation now, are Okada and our legs. Hence, they have also increased their charges. From Mile 2 to Badagry is now 6,000 Naira. How can we cope? "

In reaction to this issue, the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN,)  Badagry Federation, has sent a Press Release, which was copied to all the political gladiators and leaders in the axis including the state's speaker Obasa to see into the issue. It reads:

It is with great concern for national peace, we write to call the attention of the Lagos State Government and other concerned  stakeholders on Lagos Badagry Express Road to the protest by Drivers that started on Thursday 4th, March, 2021 due to the hike in ticket fee by the road union. 

The protest have made life so difficult for our people who are suppose to move freely for their daily activities, people now trek on daily basis just to manoeuvre their way to their work place while a lot could not make it to their work place. 

The most horrible experience is that of the students who are unable to go to school, we want the State Government to note that a lot of people live on daily income and if they don't go out a day they can't put food on their table. 

We are appealing to the  State Government to attend to the Driver's as we don't want this protest to generate another violence in the state. 

When people are deprive of their daily needs they may revolt which might generate violence. We are very much concern about the peace of the state and as such we demand for your urgent attention on this issue.

Build the Youth!

Build the Nation!