In Lagos, about 85% of Danfos on the roads don’t have working headlights, brake lights, signal lights, functional seat belts or other safety devices.
You don’t have to believe me; just take a ride around the city and see for yourself.
Let us not even talk of valid driver’s license. Most danfo drivers don’t have one.
Meanwhile, as a private motorist in Lagos, you dare not lack any of these driving necessities. Otherwise, you stand the risk of getting your vehicle confiscated by overzealous LASTMA or VIO officials.
In addition, in Lagos, danfo drivers will run the red traffic light, take one-way, constitute all manner of traffic nuisance, yet they rarely are punished for these.
Simply, Lagos Danfo qualifies as one of the most dangerous means of public transportation in the world.
Now, have you ever wondered why danfo and other commercial vehicle drivers are allowed this impunity in a state that has LASTMA, traffic Police, VIO, and FRSC?
Well, it is simple. I will explain.
Danfos And Extortive Levies
In Lagos, as many Danfos are needed to be on the road. This way, they can contribute to a pool of levy collected by a vicious cartel that masquerades as the State road transport unions.
In other words, if every danfo that conflict with the law were to be arrested, it will leave very few danfos on the road. What that would translate to is less levies collected by the ‘agberos’.
I’m sure someone is now getting the picture.
This is the simple reason why Danfos are above the law in Lagos State.
Now, here is the thing; every road traffic law enforcer is complicit in this intricate scheme: LASTMA, Police, VIO, FRSC, etc.
In fact, if you are a frequent commuter that uses danfos, you’re probably already familiar with terms like “Owo LASTMA,” “Owo Olopa,” “Owo Chairman,” etc. These are some of the levies that danfo drivers are forced to pay to the agents of the cartel.
These monies are then paid to the traffic law enforcement agents for them to turn a blind eye to the shenanigans of Danfo drivers in the state.
Lagos State Government And The Agberos
The national body of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) recently suspended the Lagos State branch of the union, which is headed by the notorious MC Oluomo.
The suspension came as a surprise and generated a stir in one particular circle.
Now, guess what happened.
Almost immediately, the Lagos State government headed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, hastily formed a new transport union. It was christened the Lagos State Parks And Garages Management.
Now, guess who was appointed to lead the new Union?
Yes. You guessed right. MC Oluomo.
By this action, the Lagos State government did in fact confirm that it is the main enabler of agberos and their mischiefs on Lagos roads.
Now, the big question is: Why was it necessary for the hurried formation of this new union by Sanwo-Olu?
Well, the answer is simple: 2023 is just by the corner, and funds need to be mobilized for the campaign season.
I hope I am getting somewhere?
The Infamous Lagos Traffic: A Gold Mine
The Lagos road transport cartel, which is made up of various Lagos road transport unions, is the biggest beneficiary of the notoriously chaotic road traffic in the State.
Additionally, there are irrefutable evidences that a prominent personality in the State and a former Governor is the chief supporter and shareholder of these unions.
According to a 2021 report by the International Centre for Investigative Report, the Lagos Chapter of NURTW generates a staggering N123.08billion ANNUALLY.
This amount exceeds the average annual IGR of most Nigerian states.
For better understanding, this amount is more than the annual budgets of Niger, Yobe and Nasarawa COMBINED!
It is also important to note that the Lagos transport unions add no value to the roads that generate so much for them:
They don’t build roads.
They don’t fix potholes.
They don’t clean drainage systems or gutters.
They do not clean even the bus stops and motor parks where they operate, etc.
An important question at this point is: Where do all these incredible sums of money that they collect go?
Lagos State IGR
Undoubtedly, N123.08billion per annum is not a small amount.
Why doesn’t the State Government collect these levies since they are the owners of the roads that generate these humongous amount for the agberos?
Indeed, Lagos state would boast of far higher IGR than they now do if this sum generated by the agberos goes to the state treasury as it is done in states like Edo and Rivers State.
Why then does the state government remain silent while some private terror organizations profit from money that ought to have gone to the state treasury?
Ambode And The Danfo Policy
In 2017, ex-Governor Akinwunmi Ambode announced that there was a plan by his government to phase out Danfos in Lagos state.
What the naive Ambode did not realize was that phasing out danfo is not part of the much talked about “Lagos state masterplan”.
That announcement would ultimately cost him his re-election as Governor.
Ambode And The Oshodi Bus Terminal
The popular Oshodi bus stop alone has over 24 different motor parks spread across the place.
Indeed, Oshodi bus stop is a major money-spinner for the Lagos state ‘agberos’.
In September 2017, Ambode started a project to modernize the Oshodi bus stop.
With the construction of the ultra-modern Oshodi bus terminal, most of these motor parks were to be eliminated.
PIONEER NEWS 