On 31 March 2023, Musiliu Akinsanya—better known as MC Oluomo, the Chairman of the Lagos State Parks and Garages Association—intervened in the dispute between commercial drivers and highway tax collectors, commonly referred to as “agberos.” MC Oluomo announced a ban on the collection of illegal taxes imposed by agberos in various parts of the state, FIJ reports.
The protest began when commercial bus drivers took to the streets on Thursday to denounce extortion by agberos. During a meeting with the drivers at the state council that afternoon, MC Oluomo declared that no driver traveling between Oshodi and Tollgate should be forced to pay illegal agbero taxes any longer. He clarified that drivers are required to purchase only two tickets per day, after which they will pay no additional fees except for loading charges. The standard ticket, approved by the Lagos State Park Management, costs N800. The extra taxes previously levied at Iyana Ipaja and Agbado Ijaiye are now invalid. Drivers may obtain their daily tickets at either Oshodi or Tollgate, and both will be recognized. Additionally, they must purchase a council ticket and a security booking for about N500.
MC Oluomo also stipulated that drivers will no longer be required to buy tickets on Saturdays and Sundays. “For weekend jobs, the union should only compel us to purchase tickets from Monday to Friday, allowing us to bring home something for our families,” a driver told FIJ.
Furthermore, MC Oluomo donated N1 million to those injured during the attack on protesting drivers. He expressed satisfaction that drivers resumed work with minimal agbero disturbances, noting that daily expenses have dropped dramatically—from N20,000 previously to just under N2,500 now.
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