Idahosa Moses
Owing to alleged high levies against them by the Edo State Government, drivers using the newly constructed Benin Central Park, located at Obakhavbaye in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State have boycotted the facility.
The drivers, while expressing their grievances, refused to drive into the park as usual, and instead parked their buses on the road thereby leading to heavy traffic in the area.
Speaking to newsmen, one of the drivers, Osaro Ekhioagbon, said that one week after the House of Assembly election in the state, the state government turned to the old levies of N1600 which he said is difficult for them to pay.
He said before the elections, the governor reduced their levies from N1600 to N800, alleging that the governor has suddenly reverted to the old order.
Ekhioagbon remarked that to make matter worse, the drivers using Central Park hardly run two trips in the day because of the activities of other bus drivers who pick up passengers along the road, yet pay lesser levies.
“Before the election, the governor reduced it to N800 and now after the election, the governor is asking us to be paid N1600.
“So, what we drivers are saying is that we cannot pay such and that the money is too much.
“Those working outside the park are paying N800 and we inside the park are paying N1600.
“We cannot afford that because those loading outside the park work more than us.
“We load either once or twice in a day, while those who pick passengers along the road run up to about eight trips in a day yet pay N800”, Ekhioagbon said.
Also speaking, Lucky Adeyan Okpowman, President of the rivers Welfare Empowerment Scheme, said the problem is currently being addressed, adding that they are willing to join hands with the state government to make things work.
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