By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Levy by touts called Agberos on private commercial vehicles in Lagos generates N123.08 billion yearly, more than the combined budgets of Nasarawa, Niger, and Yobe, according to the International Centre for Investigative Report (ICIR).
Members of the Lagos chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) share this huge sum they extort from private operators of commercial buses, motorcycles, and tricycles.
The amount does not include money other extortioners levy on hawkers, articulated vehicles, and persons who buy goods in certain markets.
ICIR recorded a total 75,000 buses which pay N3,000 daily; 37,000 motorcycles (N1,800); and 50,000 tricycles (N600).
These add up to N82.12 billion for buses, N8.1 billion (motorcycles), and N32.9 billion (tricycles) yearly; a grand total of N123.078 billion yearly.
“It is a highly connected and well-organised syndicate,” an NURTW insider who spoke on condition of anonymity told The PUNCH.
“Take Idumota for example, some agberos work in the office, others work on the streets; some work in the morning, some are constantly on afternoon shifts.
“Some also have days that they work. Although there is a fixed price, the rule of the game is that the agberos charge the drivers based on the amount drivers charge passengers.”
He added that in Idumota alone, there are over seven chairmen who get deliveries from the boys who work the street.
“The boys have delivery targets, which is the reason they act rudely to drivers and passengers alike.”
To work with them, he added, one must know one NURTW chairman or another renowned hoodlum.
He cited the case of a young man who went to Badagry to get diabolic fortifications so that he could be effective on the job.
Emmanuel Francis, a commuter, expressed concern over the activities of NURTW members and urged the federal government to regulate their activities.
Lagos Internal Revenue Service spokesman, Monsurat Amasa, said she could not comment on the amount the NURTW generates, but explained that as a part of the informal sector, the body pays tax to the government, per The PUNCH.
