Commuters along the Iyana-Ipaja/Iyana-Iba axis in Lagos were left stranded on Monday as commercial bus drivers operating on the route embarked on a strike.

The drivers are protesting alleged extortion by various law enforcement and transport regulatory agencies.

The protest targets alleged frequent 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, popularly known as agberos.

Some of the drivers said the alleged extortion has been increasing daily and has become unbearable. They complained that LASTMA officials often impound their vehicles and hold them for an entire day, cutting off their daily earnings.

The operators explained that the situation has made it difficult for them to run their businesses profitably. They decided to withdraw their services as a way of drawing attention to their grievances and calling for relief from the alleged harassment.

The industrial action has disrupted movement for many passengers who rely on commercial buses along the busy corridor. The drivers are seeking an end to what they describe as continuous financial pressure from multiple agencies.

Photo credit: Punch Newspaper