A photo of motorcycles belonging to Opay, a ride-hailing service platform, loaded at the back of a truck has provoked outrage on the Nigerian Twittersphere.
A Twitter user (@MrFestusEmeka) had on Monday shared the photo and narrated how three truckloads of motorcycles were impounded. He also pondered how the company would recover from this “setback”.
“Can Opay bikes survive this harsh reality? 3 trucks of impounded bikes today,” he said.
There are reports that the bikes were impounded by officials of the Lagos State Traffic Monitoring and Enforcement team in a bid to sanitize the major highways in the state operated by Opay riders.
Can Opay bikes survive this harsh reality? 3 trucks of impounded bikes today. pic.twitter.com/kDL7GWUEpU
— Festus. (@MrFestusEmeka) December 2, 2019
The photo has since sparked off reactions as some Lagosians took to the microblogging platform to register their annoyance with the state government.
While a number of users bemoaned a perceived intent by the government to “frustrate private business”, others tackled the officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) over their “above the law” activities
“Lagos needs a total overhaul bro. Who are these taskforce guys that operate like demigods and it looks like they’re too powerful to be checked,” a Twitter user asked
“We really can’t carry on like this. This is sad. This nation is collapsing under Buhari’s watch,” a user also said.
“With what is happening to OPay in Lagos state, just imagine a Bola Tinubu becoming a president of Nigeria. It will be a free flow for the touts. The Nigerian system will fully collapse. Disorderliness will be the order of the day. Corruption, thuggery will be the norm,” another user said.
Here is what some Nigerians had to say:
Opay are beginning to experience the "Evil Forces" present in Nigeria that @NaijaFlyingDr spoke about a while ago. They never should have announced how much investment they raised and how much they are making. That was just red meat to the hyenas.
— Dami Kolade (@DamiKols) December 2, 2019
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Nigeria thinks its fucking up just another 'Chinese Company'. But the truth is, its messing with its own people. The Nigerians employed by OPAY. The Nigerians who rely on the service to commute and earn a living. The Nigerian businesses who provide services to them. https://t.co/qEodzph9C9
— Ikechukwu (@Ik3chukwu_M) December 2, 2019
Opay will soon close business and move to Kigali, Accra, or Nairobi. Nigeria kills dream
— Dr Grand (@Poshfelly) December 3, 2019
Opay is facing what individual Nigerians face everyday.
This is what they do everyday and later talk about "Ease Of Doing Business", do Photoshoots and call young people "Lazy".
This is the absolute rubbish they do and tell us Fornication is what is bringing Meningitis.
Animals https://t.co/W7Q7UNkrn8— Gene Grey (@EuginhoCortez) December 2, 2019
With what is happening to OPay in Lagos state, just imagine a Bola Tinubu becoming a president of Nigeria. It will be a free flow for the touts. The Nigerian system will fully collapse. Disorderliness will be the order of the day. Corruption, thuggery will be the norm! #Opay
— Affidavit proffessor (@iyalode_canada) December 3, 2019
I don't understand how or why someone finds what is happening to #Opay funny atm
Like what's the source of your joy?— OuchiBaby (@Miss_Marv) December 3, 2019
OPay just want to ease the burden on Lagosians …..But these empowered touts are having non of it!….#Opay ….It’s really difficult to thrive in this Lagos….Sad!
— Eburuaja Chibuike Ferdinand (@Chibuikeh_) December 3, 2019
I know some Nigerians won't support any foreign investment but we can't innovate reasonable ideas that can compete with world class business…..i know some their riders are annoying but there no business without flaws. #Opay
— Akings_mike (@AkingsMike) December 3, 2019
Reason it’s so hard for new tech innovations to grow and generate larger income in Nigeria is cos of different problems the government’s make them face how do you want business and innovations to survive when the government doesn’t make rule to support them #Opay
— Only God Can Judge Me (@YoungSmade) December 3, 2019
#Opay might have refused to PAY O- mage to whom O- mage is due to.
— TALLerANT (@ykcee8370) December 3, 2019
Enemy of progress, lagos state and its agencies want to kill @OPay_NG @getoride they have seized over 20 bikes and destroyed many as seen in the picture below. They wont create jobs neither would they create enabling environment#Opay pic.twitter.com/SlMEnTtulO
— KMK (@kenikenson) November 27, 2019
The painful part is that some supposedly educated youths will still find a way to defend this..
— Schoolboy D (@Osamudiahmen) December 2, 2019
I say this with all sense of humility. Nigeria is a hopeless state.
— Otugo 🔥 🇳🇬 (@otugo007) December 2, 2019
The nigerian government is the number one enemy of Nigerians. Tueh
— Kindly Follow Back (@Naijadailyfeedx) December 2, 2019
This country is not it at all. Every day, I keep disconnecting little by little for this mess called a country. Things are not working in this place at all. The ones working are being frustrated
— Funmi (@adeniyifunmmy23) December 2, 2019
Succinctly put, how do you explain this? You just wake up one day and round of bikes, some of these people who owns those bikes might have gotten it at”higher purchase” which means he will be remitting money, daily or weekly….Prof Osinbanjo will have some explanation in English
— Deejay Walaky (@walaky2000) December 2, 2019
I saw an article where Lagos State govt in collaboration with NURTW guys asked for about US $520k annually as license fee before Opay can operate freely in Lagos.
— Ejekanonu Benjamin Chukwudum (@ejekanonu) December 2, 2019
Lagos needs a total overhaul bro. Who are these taskforce guys that operate like demigods and it looks like they’re too powerful to be checked.
— Alonso (@Danjuma_steven) December 2, 2019
We really can’t carry on like this. This is sad. This nation is collapsing under Buhari’s watch.
— Ikechukwu (@Aii_Kae) December 3, 2019
Anytime I go through threads like this I 😢, because I’m just 😴 of the insensitivities and nonchalantness of the people in power, in the way they handle matters has to do with the livelihood of the common people.
Is the company not licensed buy government to operate?
— Obaje GodsMight (@ObajeGodsMight) December 3, 2019
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