Commuters were left stranded on Wednesday morning following the refusal of members of the Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria (TOOAN) to pick up passengers in protest of alleged extortion by the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit (Taskforce).
Commuters on their way to their workplaces could be seen at the usual tricycle park at Ojota on Wednesday morning, waiting endlessly for tricycles to no avail, as those who dared to pick up passengers were grounded by their colleagues.
According to some tricycle operators who spoke to Arbiterz, their refusal to work was necessitated by the fact that members of the task force were harassing them.
“People are angry we (Tricycle Riders) are not working, if we are caught by the task force and asked to pay N70,000 – N80,000, would they pay it for us?.” A tricycle rider who spoke to us anonymously said.
Stranded commuters also expressed their displeasure at the situation “I have been here since morning without getting any tricycle, i am already late for work, i don’t even know what is happening”. A commuter, Michael Edet said.
Another Commuter, Kafilat Alade noted the situation had made her realize the immense importance of Tricycle riders in the society stating “You can see a lot of people trekking, we did not really know the importance of Tricycle riders before.”
Members of the Police force and the state Task Force were also seen moving towards the Tricycle park and clamping down on some tricycle riders found on their way causing palpable tension among tricycle operators.
