L-R: Chief (Mrs) Yetunde Babajide, the Association’s Matron; Alhaji (Prince) Tajudeen Adetoro, Association’s President/C.E.O; Pastor Olurotimi Ojo, Association’s Technical Adviser and Alhaji (Dr.) Lateef Oseni, immediate Past President/C.E.O., at the event

The Lagos State Taxi Drivers and Cab Operators Association (LASTCOA), popularly called ‘Yellow Taxi’, has called on Lagosians to be wary of some taxi cab operators who ‘go about’ the business of transport, using the yellow taxi without being a member.

The association through its President, Alhaji Tajudeen Adetoro, disclosed this Thursday, during a press parley in Lagos. He stated that some individuals did not register with the association and are illegally operating ‘yellow taxi/cabs’ to commit series of atrocity.

Cross section of the association members during the press parley.

He said that the association was permitted and registered to operate a taxi franchise using Yellow Taxi/ cabs striped with the Lagos State official colour to differentiate their members from any other taxi franchise in the city. This is in accordance with the provision of Road Traffic Law 2012 (Taxi Operation) section 22 (2) which states clearly the condition guiding the mile to mile operation in the state.

“They have illegally converted our association patented and approved colour and constructed several illegal taxi parks for themselves around Lagos State contrary to the new Lagos Taxi regulations.

“Our association has been inundated with several complaints of molestation by passengers and of missing luggage in some of these yellow taxi/cabs. Upon the receipt of these complaints, our association carried out extensive investigation and discovered that these atrocious acts were carried out by fraudsters pretending to be members of the association by mere procurement of a yellow taxi cab.

“We lodged complaints to the appropriate security agencies, some of theses nefarious people have been apprehended and charged to court.”

Alhaji Adetoro therefore charged the public to patronise only taxi drivers and cab operators that are within the association’s fold.

“Our taxis/cabs are clearly marked out with yellow paints with Lagos State stripes and green stickers pasted at the front and back of the windscreen. We are responsible for any loss caused by any of our members to our commuters”.

To solve the problem, the association’s President/Chief Executive Officer said “we have acquired tracking device to ensure that our services are competitive and also signed a memorandum of understanding with LASACO Assurance Plc for passenger liability insurance for all passengers that patronise our taxi, commencing from September 1, 2018.”

The association therefore commiserates with the State government and all the families that lost their loved ones in the infamous tanker fire accident at Otedola bridge.

Speaking also at the event, the association’s matron, Chief Mrs Yetunde Babajide expressed her readiness to support the association.

“I support the struggle, we have not heard of any atrocity about Yellow Taxi Drivers and Cab Operators. They were established to ensure orderliness in the transportation of residents within Lagos and its environs. I charge whoever decides to use the yellow taxi colour to desist from it. Whoever that wants to use it should join them. They are reliable and responsible people.”

Alhaji (Dr.) Lateef Oseni, the immediate past President/Chief Executive Officer of the association, charged all members of the association to fully support the Adetoro leadership in taking the association to an enviable position in Africa.

Alhaji Oseni also charged members of the public to desist from patronising unauthorized taxi/cabs for their security and safety.