Tricycles operators, popularly called Keke riders, on Tuesday, took to the streets of Ile Epo, Abule Ẹgba, Ekoro and Àgbàdo areas of Lagos to protest what they called multiple ticketing by thugs allegedly loyal to Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya, alias MC Oluomo.
The multiple taxes, according to the protesters, has made them default on their daily payments to the owners of their tricycles.
The protesters who spoke said what they called a regime of double taxation in the hands of thugs allegedly brought from Oshodi by MC Oluomo. This development, according to them came about when Oluomo, who was recently appointed by the Lagos State government to head a committee constituted to oversee parks in the state, took over the parks in the areas.
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“Can you imagine, before leaving Ile Epo I will pay for the ticket, and on getting to Ekoro, I will also pay for the same ticket, and the same ticket will be issued at Abule Ẹgba and I have to pay”, Asimiyu Okanlawon, a tricycle operator at Ekoro told the medium.
John Atteh, a tricycle operator also said “it has been very difficult for me and my family since the takeover of our park, unlike before when Alhaji Abiola Istijabah, the chairman of Tricycles Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria, Lagos chapter was fully in control. Then it used to be one ticketing. Now I don’t know what to do as the owner of the tricycle is threatening to take it back from me.”
Atteh’s story is not different from Hakeem Agbegbe, another operator who said ” yesterday I could not make any money delivery to the owner of my tricycle, and today I don’t know what will happen.”
He said they had no option but to protest the unpalatable conditions they have found themselves in.
One of the leaders of the protests, Waheed Adeoti appealed to the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwoolu to come to their aid, saying if the situation persists operators may be forced out of business, a situation that may worsen the transportation problem in the state.
Many of the operators who spoke with this medium urged the Lagos State government to settle the rift between Istijabah and Akinsanya, they added that Alhaji Akinsanya is not a tricycle operator and wondered why he should be meddling in the tricycles operations in the state.
“I honestly pray that the governor will look into our challenge for the sake of our family. The only way to go for peace to reign is to allow Tricycles Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria under its leaders to manage its operations as was the case before,” Adeoti said.
Business Hallmark reports that protests were ongoing in Ile Epo, Abule Ẹgba and Ekoro at about 11 am on Tuesday.
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