Protest Disrupts Vehicular Movement in Oyo State

Vehicular movement on the Takie-Egbeda route in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, was disrupted as scores of tricyclists staged a peaceful protest against an increase in their daily licence fees. The protest, which saw drivers withdrawing their services, left many commuters stranded and frustrated.

The protesting drivers expressed their dissatisfaction with the hike in daily charges from N700 to N1,000. According to Mr. Mukaila Oyelami, a representative of the tricyclists, the fee comprises two tickets: the “ALGON ticket” under the Oyo State Daily Ticket Scheme and the “Terminal Ticket.” He noted that they had been paying N700 daily, in addition to N200 fees to LAUTECH at the park, but the decision to increase the fee was made during a recent meeting with the Ogbomoso Park Committee.

“The park chairman told us that we’ll now be paying N1,000 daily,” Oyelami said. 

In his response, the Park Chairman, Hammed Alao, stated that the increase was necessitated by rising costs of goods and services in the country. He emphasized that the decision was not made out of insensitivity but was aligned with economic realities.

“The new revenue charge was postponed to January 2025 after discussions with the Soun of Ogbomoso,” Alao revealed. He also explained that the drivers had been informed of the possibility of a fee increment since February 2024 when the state government introduced the ALGON ticket, which added to their existing daily obligations.

The protest highlights the growing tension between transport operators and local authorities over revenue policies, with commuters bearing the brunt of these disputes. As the situation develops, the resolution sought through the intervention of local leaders remains crucial.

The tricyclists have however appealed to the Soun of Ogbomoso to mediate and reverse the decision.