Extortion hiked transport fare by about 70%
Bus drivers conveying perishable commodities such as tomatoes, pepper and onion from Bauchi state to various south eastern and south western states have begun to park their vehicles over alleged incessant extortion and harassment by security agents in checkpoints.The drivers consequently have threatened to withdraw their services should authorities fail to address the problem, an action that is likely going to affect the availability and prices of these commodities in the southern states.
The alleged extortion had already caused an increase in transport fare of these commodities by about 70%, which is born by the end user.
The National Union of Road Transport Workers in the state had also expressed concern over the unfair treatment meted on its members despite a presidential directive for drivers carrying essential items to be granted access to all parts of the country.
Now in his early forties, Adamu Kabiru popularly known as Magaji Dankwai returned on Monday 19th April from Lagos where he took 120 bags of pepper in his bus known to many as boxer, and this may be his last trip for now.
Kabiru has resolved not to undertake the trip again until after the current Coronavirus pandemic is over, due to what he called extortion, harassment, beating and delay on the road caused by security agents at checkpoints.
Attached to Muda Lawal Market (the largest perishable and tuber market in Bauchi metropolis) Kabiru’s resolve to quit Lagos route and all other western states, was preceded by similar painful but compelling decision on routes in the eastern and south-southern states, over the same problems.
Before the coronavirus pandemic, Kabiru claimed that the maximum he and other drivers spend on checkpoints from Bauchi to Lagos is N5,000.
The amount according to him has almost quadrupled now to N30,000 or more. During his last trip, Kabiru claimed that from Abuja to Ibadan alone he spent about N15,000. He said the organizing secretary of their association spent N17,000 a week before on the same axis. He said another driver from their branch called Kagara had to part ways with N10,000 at a checkpoint in Ago on his way to Lagos.
In his words, “initially we give each checkpoint between N100 and N200 and they allow us passage. However, when this Corona issue started, the checkpoints request the money in thousands. The least they now accept is from N500 to N1,000”.
According to him, even the N500 or N,1000 that is being accepted is usually after long bargain and pleas, which normally cause them delay in arriving at their destination.
Another driver Awwal Rariya who conveys Tomatoes, Pepper and Onion from Jama’are, Soro and Lago all in Bauchi state also said many of his colleagues have parked their vehicles because of the dramatic rise in checkpoints fees and harassment.
During his last trip to Lagos from Jama’are, Rariya claimed that he had spent N19,500 in the first leg of the trip and had spent almost the same amount during the return journey.
“Our major concern is the return journey, because you hardly can get load to carry back home. “So, by the time you calculate money for fuel, checkpoints, etc, you will discover that the trip is not worth doing even with the increase in the transportation price”, says Rariya.
Kabiru and Rariya were not the only ones being extorted by security agents and vigilante groups on the roads as they try to convey essential food items from north to southern parts of the country.
Another boxer driver simply called ‘ladies’, attached to Muda Lawal Market also transported pepper to Ibadan and his pass at every checkpoint is ‘Fara Yar Abuja’ (N1,000 as the Hausas called it).
Imrana Officer’s trip to Gboko in Benue state where he conveyed 45 baskets of tomatoes was not an exception. He also had to part away with either N500 or N1000 at every checkpoint or get detained for hours if he refuses to do the needful.
The deputy chairman of NURTW in Katagum Local Government, Abdullahi Zubairu narrated how one of their drivers refused a N200,000 consignment of pepper to Lagos from Kano after calculating the huge amount of money he is going to spend on checkpoints. The driver according to Zubairu simply left the vehicle in Kano and return to Azare, with a resolve not to undertake the trip again until after the pandemic.
Across the state, bus drivers have become skeptical in undertaken the journeys, despite the fact that this is the peak season for the perishable goods such as tomatoes, pepper and onions.
This is coming despite a standing order given by President Muhammadu Buhari for free movement of vehicles carrying food and other essential items in the wake of lockdown of some states in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.
The president in his two broadcasts to the nation on 29th March and 13th April, 2020 in respect of the Corona pandemic declared that “all vehicles conveying food and other essential humanitarian items into these locations from other parts of the country will also be screened thoroughly before they are allowed to enter these restricted areas”.
Beating, delay and Harassment
Another concern for these drivers is the series of inhuman treatment meted on them by the security agents including police, soldiers and government approved vigilante.
Narrating his ordeal, Kabiru recalled how a government approved vigilante officer used his belt and beat his conductor at a checkpoint in Okene despite giving them N1,000.
Kabiru also recalled how a boxer driver from Jos with whom he plies the eastern routes was beaten to death at a produce checkpoint right before his eyes in Delta state, for refusing to give them N500, despite paying revenue fees for the produce he was conveying.
This and other reasons informed his decision to quit the Eastern axis and returned to the western routes-which are no better.
The drivers are also delayed unnecessarily at the checkpoints, thereby elongating the time of their arrival at their destination.
Before the Corona crisis, the journey from Bauchi to Lagos lasts for 12hrs, mostly from 6:00pm to 6:00am.
The delays experienced by the drivers at the checkpoints has now extended the time from just 12hrs to 18hrs or more depending on the vehicles make.
“Whatever how fast you ran, by that 6:00am when we should be in Lagos, one will still be cruising around Lokoja or Okene. If you are lucky you will arrive Lagos around 11:00 or 12: noon”,says Kabiru.
“Even where you give the requested money, the security agents will still delay you” Imrana Officer.
We’ve reported the problem to our headquarters—State NURTW
Commenting on the issue, the Bauchi State Chairman National Union of Road Transport Workers NURTW Isma’il Abubakar said the union is in the full picture of the problem and had since reported the matter to their national officers.
In addition, the state office of the union according to him had convened two meetings on the 23rd & 24th of this month where they deliberated on the matter and decided to write officially to the Nigeria Police Force.
“we have drafted the letter already during our last meeting and it will be typed over the weekend for submission on Monday next week to the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 12” says Abubakar.
Abubakar explained that the drivers had no option than to park their vehicles, because the trip is no longer gainful. “At every checkpoint, a driver will have to park hundreds of metres away, trek to the security officers and settle them before he proceeds with the journey. “We do not deserve this treatment because we are helping the nation in this critical situation” Abubkara lamented.
Business no longer profitable
Bauchi State Chairman of ‘Kungiyar Yan Gwari na Jihar Bauchi’(Association of Marketers of perishable items in Bauchi State) Abdullahi MaiGambaye declared that security agents are threatening the free movement of perishable goods across the country.
Gambaye said excessive extortion by security agents at checkpoints has caused an increase in the transportation fare by about 70% and therefore rendered the business less profitable and unsustainable.
He said before the Corona lockdown, the cost of a bus that conveys between 110 and 120 bags of pepper from Bauchi to Lagos was N120,000 or N130,000 maximum. This amount according to him has now increased by about 70% to N190,000 0r N200,000.
Gambaye wondered why between Bauchi and Saminaka in Kaduna state alone, which is a distance of less than 200km there are up to 20 checkpoints. “They knew we are carrying perishable goods and therefore always impose certain amount of money which we must pay or get the vehicle delayed, because we don’t want such delays we have to give them and move on”.
We are just receiving this information—Police
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Bauchi State Police Command DSP Kamal Datti when contacted, declared that his command is just receiving such information and that they would investigate and take appropriate action on any officer found extorting the drivers.
This report written by Nura Bashir was facilitated by Wole Soyinka Centre for investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) under its Covid-19 Reality Check Project.
