They believe this will eliminate one of the factors local police use to extort drivers, as there are no official government signs present.
Residents of Lagos State have set up roadblock signs at various bus stops and areas, instructing motorists to avoid driving through state government-owned BRT bus lanes.
They believe this will eliminate one of the factors local police use to extort drivers, as there are no official government signs present.
In a video published on Facebook by Objective TV, speakers from Super Bus Stop explained that as motorists descend from the Abule-Egba area, some police officers lie in wait to arrest and extort them for driving through BRT bus lanes.
Meanwhile, there is no sign indicating that they should not use the lane.
One of the speakers said, “This is Super Bus Stop, as you are descending from Abule-Egba. There is a BRT Lane here. This is a federal road apparently but the state has put a BRT there, and as a result, you notice that if you enter here (pointing at the road), some police officers are waiting ahead.
“We call them Ganusi like Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde KWAM1 would say.
“Because the government would not do it, we will do it for ourselves. This is ‘Do Not Enter’ sign, and we are encouraging everybody wherever you are, let’s look out for ourselves. We will put this one (the sign) here (at the Super Bus Stop). Let us hope they won’t remove it. Instead, we hope they make it even better.
“Because we are now using just flex and wooden frame. If you are coming to Abule-Egba, we are telling you because this is our own hood, do not enter this BRT lane. Police officers are waiting ahead to extort you.”
He pleaded with other residents of the state to copy the initiative and replicate it in their areas so that those driving in such areas can see the signs and avoid wrong-way driving or driving against traffic.
He added, “The government has constituted themselves as an opponent to us, therefore, we should look out for ourselves.”
He said the acronym ‘CICH’ on the road sign stands for Citizens Intervention for Collective Humanity, stressing that they are doing it for Nigerians because the government has failed to do its responsibilities.
“The moment we put this one here, we know the officers are waiting for you ahead, what they wanted to do, we have defeated them. They are not supposed to be there when this one (the sign) is here. So, this one is here, let us see what they will do next,” he said.
Also speaking, another resident said, “Policemen have really extorted motorists here. What they do many times is to use a mini bus, known as Korope, drive past BRT lane so that people driving will follow the bus and once they get to the edge where they are about to turn, they will stop and circle the cars and direct the cars towards a certain spot where they will extort drivers.
“We also have another spot at Pleasure Bus Stop where they charge as much as N300,000. Meanwhile, they don’t have any sign to tell people it is the wrong route.
“This is a federal road and anything of such from the state government should come with a notice ‘Do Not Enter’ or ‘BRT Only’ except on emergencies.”
He lamented that in saner climes, there are signs, and people obey signs when they see them.
He said, “My fear is that when we leave, they (police officers) still have boys who might remove the signs we have put because that is what they do. They come as early as 4:30am.
“We have Ilepo Police Station on the other side of the road and those on night duty would always sneak out and come to stand on the road to look for who to devour.
“At this juncture, I beg Nigerians, I beg Lagosians, and for those coming from outside Lagos, do not enter, else you will pay N150,000 to some hungry fellows.”
They said there were signs directing motorists not to drive through the BRT lanes but alleged that the police deliberately removed them and to apprehend motorists to extort.
This comes amid the police prosecution of human rights activist and convener of #RevolutionNow Movement, Omoyele Sowore, over a video he recorded during an altercation with police officers on the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Access Road in Lagos, where the police officers were said to be extorting money from motorists.
SaharaReporters had reported how the police force launched a manhunt for Sowore, eventually inviting him for questioning and detaining him when he honoured the invitation.
The video in question shows Nigerian police officers stopping vehicles on the road, including Sowore’s.
He confronted the officers, criticizing them for creating unnecessary traffic on the airport road. Sowore emphasized that their actions were inappropriate and disruptive.
In the video, Sowore is heard saying, “We are not parking. You are not supposed to be causing traffic on the airport road. We are not parking. Go and bring your Oga. You people should calm down.”
Despite his objections, the police officers stood in front of his car, insisting he park. Sowore, however, refused and firmly demanded that the officers clear the road.
Eventually, one of the officers instructed his colleagues to allow Sowore to proceed. As he drove off, one officer was heard saying, “God punish you,” to which Sowore promptly responded, “God punish you too.”
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