The International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), has revealed that the Lagos chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), a trade union that serves the interests of transport workers in the road transport sector, makes no less than N123.08 billion annually.
As seen in the data, the money was often realised through the levies imposed on commercial vehicles, motorcycles, and tricycles.
The data also shows that other sources of income for the union were -money levied on hawkers, articulated vehicles, and persons who visited certain markets to buy goods.
While a total of 75,000 buses; 50,000 tricycles; and 37,000 motorcycles, were recorded for the report, the accrued annual revenue indicates that on a daily basis, N3,000, N600, and N1,800 were levied on buses, motorcycles, and tricycles respectively.
These levies sum up to N82.1 billion for buses; N8.1 billion for motorcycles; and N32.9 billion for tricycles yearly; making a total of N123.078 billion yearly.
Corroborating the data, a close associate of the NURTW who on a condition of anonymity, said the report may not be falsified, as the union “is a highly connected and well-organised syndicate.”
Exemplifying his point, the associate continued: “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 they charge the passengers.”
He added that in Idumota, there were over seven chairmen who get deliveries from the boys that work on the streets.
“The boys have delivery targets, which is the reason they act rudely to drivers and passengers alike,” he explained.
He narrated further that to work with them, one must know one NURTW chairman or another renowned hoodlum on the street.
