Oyo NYSC Coordinator Protests Extortion By Commercial Drivers

By Dayo Adu

Timely intervention of the Oyo State Coordinator of the National Youths Service Corps, Mr. Abel Oche, the Batch B, Stream one, corps members have been extorted by commercial drivers unhindered.

It’s a tradition of the NYSC Officials to mobilise commercial drivers to the camp on the closing of the three weeks orientation course for every new batch after distribution of deployment letters to places of primary assignments, corps members usually pay regulated fares to enhance stress-free travel to their respective local governments of posting across the state.

The situation however took a new twist as the drivers inflated the fare from 2000 to 3500 naira per passenger from the camp to Ibadan metropolis, hinging the development to the artificial scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS in the state 

Aside the 1500 naira increase, the drivers also had the corps members packed in four persons per row in their respective eighteen passengers busses.

But Mr Oche, whom the corps members refer to as their Father and Leader, lived up to his responsibility by preventing the drivers from extorting them by insisting that fare from Iseyin to Ibadan metropolis should not be more than 2500 naira.

He noted that transport fares were yet to be increased officially inspite of the artificial scarcity and the unofficial hike in the price of PMS across the state.

“Today, God has given me the privilege to be their father in the state, I must make them laugh and not cry.”

‘I blame my staff who held meeting with you, I will investigate and bring them to book. Any of my staff who collected tip from you must return the money.”

Although some of the drivers drove out of the camp empty in disagreement with the price, fares to other local government areas, including Eruwa, a 45mins drive from Iseyin was reduced from 4000 to 3000 naira, while that of Oyo town was pegged at 2000 from 3500 naira. 

Earlier in an address, while declaring the orientation course closed, the Oyo state governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, represented by the commissioner for youths and sports, Miss Wasilat Adegoke charged the corps members to live as change agents in their respective community of service.

Governor Makinde, enjoined them to join hands with the government to stamp out corruption and deploy their expertise and ingenuity to fight the scourge of poverty and current economic hardship.