‘Agbero’, Transport Unions And Public Order

 By Adesegun Ogundeji

Popularly referred to as  Agbero, operators of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employers of Nigeria (RTEAN), are major actors in the transportation sector of Lagos State, and indeed other States across the country.

To some,  Agberos are into legitimate undertakings, while others simply see them as interlopers who compound the State’s transportation challenges. However, irrespective of contrary opinions, in the real sense of it,  Agbero,  by its original concept, is doing a legitimate business. Shocked? No doubt, I am sure a lot will be surprised to hear this, but don’t crucify me yet.

Just wait a minute!   Is a travel agent doing a legitimate business? Well, the answer is yes. By implication, if a travel agent is doing a legitimate business, then an  Agbero  is equally into a legitimate business. The point is that our understanding of  Agbero  does not tally with its original conception.

What an  Agbero  (commuter’s link man) does is not different, by inference, from what a travel agent does.  Agberos  have been operating in the transport sector since the days of the yore, acting as middlemen between the transporters and commuters.   It is quite plausible that the ‘Gen Z’ might find it tough to understand this narrative because time has changed.

In those days, willing travelers booked seats ahead with the  Agbero  who in turn informed the transporter to reserve a specific number of seats for people who had booked ahead with him. The implication is that if you are not on that itinerary you go nowhere.

Are you getting the gist?

Therefore, for his time and efforts in gathering passengers for the vehicle, the transporter gives him an agreed percentage of the fare. In-fact, in the olden days, travelers who live far from the  Agbero’s  (travel agent) abode sleeps over in his house so as not to miss the flight. Did I say flight? Sorry, I meant bus.

I experienced this in my series of travels to Ikuehi, Ihima in the now Adavi Local government of Kogi State. Adi Jimoh was the transport agent of  Suru Ohu ni  (Surulere) Transport Company in Ikorodu. His base was Ojogbe, while Idi Mangoro in Agege was the major loading point for vehicles going to Ebiraland, generally referred to as Okene.

As school resumption approached, the agent informed our parents when a vehicle will be available. The same happened upon vacation.

What I have laboured to establish from the foregoing is to give legitimacy to the business of  Agbero  both historically and legitimately.

But then, with relation to the concept established thus far, does  Agbero  still exist in Lagos?

I dare to say no. Those roughnecks, guttural voices and fierce looking men we now call  Agberos  are mere opportunistic elements extorting money from hardworking drivers.

Today, no one acts again as a travel agent for anyone, at least those travelling by road. Not even on the inter-state routes. In the modern era, there are designated parks (public and private) where vehicles are ready for boarding. The traveler is, therefore, at liberty to plan his trip without the help of an agent.

Therefore,  Agbero,  in its present form, is nothing but a fraud. But what of the NURTW and RTEAN?   Are they still relevant? In my view, they are. They are not different from the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and even the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). They were established and registered to protect the interest of their members.

The major difference, however, lies in the fact that while the road transport associations deploy crude methods to collect their dues on the roads, others do the same through more dignifying tactics. Their members pay through monthly deductions. They maintain a verifiable membership list and relate with their members decently.

This is one area that the transport unions need to work on as the only nexus between them and their members (drivers) is the daily ‘extortion’.

Thus, the modus operandi of transport unions and the boys unleashed on the transport workers as revenue collectors on the roads is antithetical to the posture of being an association for the welfare of the road workers. Incessant violent clashes between the “welfarists” (unions) and the supposed beneficiaries (drivers) speaks volume about their relationship.

Commercial bus operators who claim to belong to the transport unions are those who join in revenue collection when they have no vehicle to drive. They are so lawless and in most cases violent. The larger majority of transport workers are not members of the unions and they don’t subscribe to them, except by coercion.

Few weeks ago, some threat bearing public notices appeared in some bus stops, including Oworonshonki, Oshodi, Ikeja and Agege, warning operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to steer clear of the bus stops. When that failed, some supposed drivers supported by urchins staged protests in the affected areas, alleging LASTMA’s high handedness.

A deeper look into the incident shows that it was a ploy to divert attention as evidence clearly shows that most of the main actors were no drivers. They were union members who see the enforcement of rules against commercial vehicles stopping in some places where they extort money from drivers as robbing them of ‘revenue’.

This is not to say that there are no proven cases of some law enforcement operatives going overboard and beyond their rules of engagement, but a fair assessment of road use in the State reveals that Traffic Laws are obeyed in reverse order.

The law enforcement agents are attacked verbally and physically. In some cases, the attacks resort to the death of innocent people, especially those delivering crucial public services to the people.

The Lagos drivers, especially commercial bus operators, want to have things done their way, irrespective of the pains they cause to other road users. They hate enforcement of rules and regulations. Their sympathizers and co-law breakers are quick at accusing the government of trying to generate revenue from traffic offenders.

Truth is that fines are not taxes and levies. Payment of fines are optional, depending on if you are willing to obey the rules. The truth is that enforcement costs the government more than the possible revenue that might accrue from the so-called fines.

Agberos  no longer have any business on the roads. They have outlived their usefulness. On the other hand, the NURTW and RTEAN, being legal entities, should opt for more civilized ways of conducting their activities without constituting public nuisance. This is the 21st  century, Lagos deserves the best. 

*Ogundeji is Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.