Commuters travelling along the Iyana-Ipaja/Iyana-Iba axis of Lagos have been left stranded after commercial bus drivers operating on the route suspended services over alleged extortion by law enforcement and transport regulatory agencies.
The drivers reportedly stopped operations over what they described as persistent demands for money by officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the Police, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), popularly known as agberos.
Some of the affected drivers expressed frustration over what they described as daily extortion, saying the situation had become increasingly difficult for commercial transport operators.
The drivers alleged that LASTMA officials frequently impounded their vehicles over various traffic offences and, in some cases, kept the vehicles for an entire day.
According to them, such actions resulted in significant financial losses for both vehicle owners and drivers, as the loss of operating hours directly affected their daily earnings.
The protesting drivers said they decided to withdraw their services to draw attention to their grievances and pressure the relevant authorities to address what they described as persistent extortion along the route.
The development has affected commuters who rely heavily on commercial buses to travel between the Iyana-Ipaja and Iyana-Iba areas, with passengers reportedly left searching for alternative means of transportation.
