Toyota Sienna harassment in Lagos has sparked outrage as private drivers face extortion and aggressive enforcement disguised as revenue collection
Toyota Sienna harassment in Lagos is fast becoming a nightmare for many law-abiding motorists.
What should ordinarily be a routine drive has turned into a daily battle against state officials who misclassify minivans as commercial vehicles and subject their owners to intimidation.
This ugly trend recently made headlines when Fr. Okerulu John, visiting Lagos for the first time, was harassed by more than six government officials who demanded permits he did not need.
Despite presenting complete papers, they insisted on a Hackney Permit.
His explanation that his car was privately registered fell on deaf ears. One officer even struck his vehicle and ordered him to step down.
Fr. Okerulu is not alone.
I have personally faced similar harassment in the hands of thuggish looking officials, and it took the intervention of a call to a government contact before they reluctantly backed off.
Many other drivers on X have shared the same ordeal, describing the treatment as illiterate enforcement and forceful revenue generation.
Misclassification as commercial vehicles
The core of this Toyota Sienna harassment lies in the wrongful assumption that all minivans are commercial.
The Vehicle Inspection Service, VIS, and other state agencies often demand Hackney Permits, which cost upwards of ₦45,000 annually, even from those with private registrations.
Drivers complain of coercion, threats, and in some cases, physical force.
Aggressive revenue tactics
Observers link this to Lagos State’s revenue drive under the Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018.
The so called zero tolerance policy on traffic violations, while intended to improve order, has bred overreach. Targeting Toyota Siennas, popular among families for their space and reliability, has become an easy way to squeeze revenue.
The pattern suggests a systemic problem in Nigeria’s governance where the line between lawful enforcement and open extortion is blurred.
Public anger and calls for reform
Public frustration is mounting.
Citizens say it is unfair to subject private car owners to levies meant for commercial operators.
On social media, many argue that the government’s methods show a disturbing preference for revenue collection over fairness.
The Lagos State government often justifies the crackdowns as part of its THEMES Plus Agenda, but critics insist the approach lacks compassion.
Harassing motorists already battling economic hardship undermines trust in leadership.
A call to action
It is time for Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu and the Commissioner for Transport, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, to act decisively. They need to have a sit down with the local government and LCDAs chairmen on this issue.
Clear guidelines must be enforced to distinguish private from commercial vehicles.
Citizens deserve protection from harassment, not policies that weaponise enforcement against them.
Also read: ‘Employment schedule’ Lagos places 4,000 unemployed graduates on N40,000 monthly salary.
Until then, Toyota Sienna harassment will remain a painful reminder of how governance can lose sight of service when revenue becomes the ultimate prize.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
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