Youths in Badagry, under the umbrella of the National Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN), have urged the Lagos State Government to intervene in the ongoing strike embarked upon by commercial transporters in the area.

In a joint statement signed by the youth coordinators – Abdulsalam Ashade, David Aladeotan, and Yewhenu Peter – the group urged the Lagos State Government and other concerned stakeholders to dialogue with the protesting transporters whose action had made life unbearable for commuters on Badagry-Lagos road.

“The protest has made life so difficult for our people who are supposed to move freely for their daily activities.

“Badagry residents now trek on daily basis just to manoeuvre their way to their workplace, while many could not make it to their various destinations.

“The most horrible experience is that of the students who are unable to go to school.

“We want the state government to note that a lot of people live on daily income and if they do not go out in a day, they cannot put food on their table.

“We are appealing to the state government to attend to the commercial drivers as we do not want this protest to degenerate into another violence in the state,” the statement said.

The statement said that when the residents are deprived of their daily needs they might revolt, which might snowball into violence.

“We are very much concerned about the peace of the state and as such, we demand your urgent attention on this issue,” it said.

Commercial bus drivers along the Lagos-Badagry expressway had, since March 4, stayed off the road, alleging extortion and constant manhandling by touts (agberos).

The commercial transporters are also protesting a hike in levy from N500 to N800 by the Lagos State Government.

NAN reports that thousands of passengers were stranded at various bus stops as no commercial bus plied the roads.

Meanwhile, commercial motorcyclists were having a field day conveying passengers at rather high costs.