Lagos clamps down on NURTW activities, as national body threatens indefinite ban on state chapter

Following the mayhem which descended on parts of the state in the aftermath of the announcement of a new Transportation Levy Policy, the Lagos Government has banned activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in some areas.

This is also as the national leadership of the NURTW has threatened to indefinitely suspend operations of the Lagos chapter if another incident occurs and members are linked to it in the state.

Last Thursday, factions within the NURTW clashed in the Lagos Island area over control of motor parks, leaving up to four persons dead and several others with various degrees of injuries.

The dead and injured also included traders, innocent passersby and commuters.

Meanwhile, the police command in the state said it has arrested over 20 people, including the key actors in the fracas.

Those arrested included the NURTW branch Chairman, Alhaji Abdulazeez Adekunle Lawal, popularly known as ‘Kunle Poly’ and Mustapha Adekunle, the State Treasurer for the NURTW otherwise known as Tafa Sego have been arrested by Lagos Rapid Response Squad (RRS)

The duo’s arrest was confirmed by State Police Command spokesman, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi, who said it was connected to constant clashes in Idumota and its environs which have intermittently crippled commercial activities in the area.

Reacting to the mayhem, Tuesday, the Special Adviser to the Lagos Governor on Transportation, Oluwatoyin Fayinka, Tuesday announced the indefinite suspension of the Union’s activities at Eyin Eyo, Church Street and Idumota Bridge areas on the Lagos Island.

Rising from a meeting, Tuesday, comprising the Lagos chapter of the NURTW, Central Business District (CBD), and Lagos State Market Women Association (Iya Oloja General and Iya Oloja of Lagos Island) held at Alausa, Ikeja, to address the crisis often caused by activities of transport union members, the Special Adviser explained that the Lagos State Parks Monitoring Authority will resume work at Eyin Eyo, to prevent further acts of violence.

“The Rapid Response Squad, RRS, has been directed to deploy Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) on Idumota Bridge to deter motorists from driving against traffic in compliance with traffic rules and regulations.

“They will also enforce the suspension of the NURTW within the axis and simultaneously flush out the Oju Opake boys lurking along Plaza around Church Street axis,” Fayinka affirmed.

Similarly, suspension of all activities of the transport union at Church Street and John Street, particularly Keke Marwa and Mini Buses (Korope) was also announced by the Special Adviser.

He asserted that the RRS, in collaboration with the state police command, would ensure safety of lives in the area.

“State security operatives are hereby put on red alert to ensure safety and security of lives and properties in Lagos Island and environs,” Fayinka stated.

Fayinka who expressed her displeasure at the wanton looting and destruction of their goods in shops around Idumota area, applauded the position taken by State Government, the Iya Oloja, Lagos Island, Alhaja Risikat Odumosu.

“We will not stand back and watch our properties destroyed by miscreants from now where,” she stressed as she appealed to the state government to come to their rescue.

Meanwhile, the national leadership of the NURTW has threatened to indefinitely suspend operations of the Lagos state chapter if another incident occurs and members are linked to it in the state.

National President of the NURTW, Tajudeen Baruwa, who stated this through a statement, Tuesday, also sympathised with the families of the people that lost their loved ones, suffered any form of injury, and recorded loss of property during the incident.

“We are using this medium to pass a strong message to the union’s members in Lagos at large, that state’s council executives and NURTW operations in the state entirely may be suspended indefinitely to allow investigation on the incident to be carried out diligently.

“However, consultations are ongoing with the state government, security agencies, and other stakeholders so as to reach an arrangement on next line of actions which would be determined by the outcome of the reached agreement.

“The state’s council executives and entire members of the union should bear in mind that notice of further action will be communicated upon conclusion by the apex body of the union.

“National Council of the NURTW is not in support of such conduct and the ugly incident that occurred at Idumota axis of Lagos Island and we are disassociating the body from any act that is capable of promoting spilling of blood and paralysing businesses as witnessed a few days ago in Lagos.

“In ensuring that appropriate actions were been taken to end such conduct going forward, the union will be working with the Lagos State Government, security agencies, and other stakeholders to investigate as well as go after persons or groups that are behind this re-occurring barbaric display that led to the loss of lives and several properties in the community.

“We hereby assure Lagosians, as the national body of NURTW, that something will be done to end such conduct. We cannot continue this way, putting a bad image on the entirety of the Union, this is unacceptable.

“The union is tendering its unreserved apology to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, entire Lagosians over inconvenience the ugly incident may have caused the state, its law-abiding people, businesses that suffered the unrest, most.

“We commend the state government on the quick intervention that brought calm to the community and the body is assuring the government that all erring members who took to violence instead of peace will not go unpunished,” the statement read.