The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NURTW

  • IGP to Abuja drivers: Register your vehicles or face clamp down

    IGP to Abuja drivers: Register your vehicles or face clamp down

    The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase has given Abuja commercial drivers two weeks ultimatum to get proper form of identification for their vehicles or face clamp down.

    The IGP explained that the move is necessary following the rate of insecurity in the country.

    This was disclosed in Abuja Thursday when the national excos of the National Union of Road Transport workers visited him in the Force Headquarters.

    The IGP said: “For now, the clamp down is restricted to Abuja, and it is because Abuja is more cosmopolitan and the complaints we receive are more prevalent in Abuja and that is why we want to clamp down on Abuja quickly before it becomes a nuisance.

    “In Abuja, I think we have a very serious problem, there are lots of kabu kabu drivers on the highway and you will agree with me that when we have issues of insurgency that we have in this country, it could be very dangerous so there must be a way of attacking those vehicles that are not properly registered to avoid calamity.

    He added: “‎I give the drivers  the grace of two weeks, after two weeks, we will start clamping down on all vehicles that ply the highway in FCT without proper identification because we want orderliness.‎ The drivers should either use a particular colour of paint or stickers as form of identification so that our work will be easy for us.

    The IGP while sympathising with the Union over the lives of members that were lost in areas hit by insurgency urged the union to also embrace security in motorparks.

    The Police boss said: “Motor parks should ensure that members register and that when it is time for them to renew their papers that they are also guided on how to go about it. We will also ensure that the parks are well secured.

    Responding, the President of NURTW, Alhaji Najeem Yasin assured the IGP that his members will comply with the directive.

    “We can achieve it in two weeks because we have the members and they will call all other members in FCT to order.”

  • NURTW pleads for more bus stops in Lagos

    NURTW pleads for more bus stops in Lagos

    The Lagos State Chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has pleaded with the State Government to provide additional bus stops to foster traffic flow.

    The Chairman of the union in the state, Mr Tajudeen Agbede, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    Agbede said more bus stops and motor parks should be provided in the metropolis to curb indiscriminate picking and dropping of passengers along the road.

    ‘’We need more bus stops and motor parks to allow us to operate freely without disrupting the free flow of traffic and constituting nuisance to other road users.

    ‘’If there are adequate designated bus stops like the Bus Rapid Transit, commuters will always go there to board buses as well as disembark without disrupting flow of traffic. ’’

    He also called on members of the union to make use of available bus stops ones, advising commuters to always go to the designated bus stops and parks to board buses.

    The NURTW chief said that commuters boarding inter-state vehicles on highways were exposing themselves to danger.

    “Commuters travelling outside the state should go to designated motor parks to board vehicles in order to have their names written on the manifest.

    “The passengers manifest is very important because in the case of any eventuality, a passenger’s family can be contacted through the next of kin’s contact number registered on it.

    ‘’Another benefit of boarding vehicle at designated parks is to help the union to check reckless driving by reporting any erring driver to union officials at the parks.

    ‘’A passenger can also locate his or her misplaced or missing goods at the union’s office,’’ Agbede said.

    Also, Mr Rotimi Ajayi, the NURTW Ikorodu West Chairman, said that many areas in Ikorodu did not have bus stops.

    “We have set up a task force to monitor and arrest any bus operator who disrupts the free flow of traffic in the area,’’ he stated.

  • NURTW seeks review of Okada restriction in Lagos

    NURTW seeks review of Okada restriction in Lagos

    Lagos State chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Tajudeen Agbede has appealed to the government to review the restriction of commercial motorcyclists (Okada) on some roads.

    He said the state council has done everything within its power through public enlightenment to ensure Okada riders complied with the directive.

    He warned that the Okada riders wing of the NURTW will not hesitate to disown anybody found flouting the restriction on the expressway and highway.

    “At our level, we have embarked on public education to educate them on the dangers of riding Okada on the highways and expressway and from our findings; they (Okada riders) have been complying with the instruction. In fact any commercial motorcyclist found on the expressway and major highway will be arrested and handed over to the police.

    The NURTW boss however urged government to lift the restriction on roads not risky for Okada riders

    For instance, Agbede, said government should lift the restriction on some link roads because they in the state. These link roads, he said are not risky for Okada riders.

    Agbede said the Motorcycle Operators Association of Lagos State (MOALS), an affiliate of NURTW, has done a comprehensive report on those link roads, adding that the report on those link roads to be exempted from the restriction have been compiled and forwarded to the government.

    “I would like to appeal to state government to lift the restriction on some of these routes to make life easy for both the Okada riders and the residents of those areas who depend on okada as a means of transportation. Some of the people riding these Okadas are graduates from various universities who took to riding Okada due to the acute unemployment in the country,” he said.

  • NURTW hails Ambode at 52

    NURTW hails Ambode at 52

    The Lagos State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede , has congratulated Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode on his 52nd birthday.

    The governor, who was 52 yesterday, urged well-wishers to channel congratulatory advertisement resources to fund cancer research and treatment.

    Agbede, in a statement said: “The efforts of the governor since he was sworn in shows clearly that he means well for the generality of the people of the state. You have shown within a short period that you are ready to serve the people.”

    The NURTW boss assured Ambode of the union’s readiness to continue to cooperate with the government.

  • National peace cup holds November

    National peace cup holds November

    A non-partisan football and music festival to foster peace and love among Nigerians, especially policy makers, corporate organisations and young artistes will hold later in this year.

    The festival, first of its kind in the history of the country, is part of the efforts towards involving all State Governors, Artistes, Entertainers, and political fathers across the country to sustain peace and love in the country.

    Titled National Peace and Unity Cup, the event is scheduled to hold within a period of 20 days during which young Nigerians with football and singing talents would be empowered to display their prowess across all 36 states including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    These young Nigerians would be grouped according to geo-political zones while they exhibit their talents through football or music at the event in November.

    Speaking at the pre-launch briefing in Lagos, Mr. Bankole Moshood, Chief Responsibility Officer of the organizing company, MOB Zenox Enterprises, explained that the event was conceived as a result of the need to build upon the post election peace handed to Nigeria, which according him was “against the run of play, going by the predictions and expectations of pundits and prophets of doom who had concluded that Nigeria would be consumed by war.”

    He explained further that since football was already a cementing factor in Nigeria, while war and chaos thrived on the strength and vigor of youth: “It has become imperative and strategic to merge the two in a non-partisan political and merry atmosphere devoid of strife and rivalry for the purpose of deepening and establishing the desire for national peace and progress in the subconscious of our youths.

    Expected at the festival include Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, General  Yabuku Gowon (Rtd) and Chief Alex Ekweme among others.

    More so, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), National Union of Road Transport workers (NURTW) have being sensitized while corporate bodies like SIFEX group and others in the banking industry and telecom sectors have began putting their weight behind the initiative.

  • ‘NURTW’ll support governor’

    ‘NURTW’ll support governor’

    The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has said it will support Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    The Chairman of the Lagos State Council, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, in a statement yesterday assured that members will cooperate as they did during the tenure of former Governor Babatunde Fashola.

    Agbede said: “We had a good relationship with the government under Governor Fashola, hence the success achieved by the administration. So, as a partner in progress, we are ready to cooperate with the new government.”

    Agbede said the NURTW will continue to maintain peace and tranquility in motor parks.

    He said:”Since, we came we have ensured that there is peace in the parks. We have made sure that all the parks are equipped with clean toilets. We have been equipping our parks with CCTV cameras to boost security of lives and property.”

  • NURTW denies involvement

    NURTW denies involvement

    The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Ekiti State has denied involvement in the mayhem, which rocked Ado Ekiti on Wednesday.

    The Secretary of the Union, Akinsola Osundiya, said the particular loading point where the violence occurred did not belong to the NURTW.

    Osundiya faulted a report in a national daily (not The Nation), which accused members of the union of involvement in the mayhem.

    Describing NURTW as a responsible union, Osundiya urged the public to disregard the report.

  • How Citizen Eniola died, by NURTW chief Oluomo

    How Citizen Eniola died, by NURTW chief Oluomo

    The Oshodi zonal Chairman and State Treasurer of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya (a.k.a. Mc Oluomo) has  explained how the late  Olayemi Eniola (a.k.a  Easy Oluwo), died on April  9.

    Oluomo said Eniola died after the campaign train was disrupted by some hoodlums suspected to be members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) towards the end of Oshodi road.

    He added that the hoodlums accosted members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) while conducting a peaceful rally at Mafoluku, Lagos State and shot  sporadically.

    He said  in the ensuing  melee, many cars and other valuables were damaged by the thugs, while several people sustained injuries. It took the intervention of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), who were at the campaign ground to restore peace.

    “The man “Essy Oluwo”, who was a core supporter to the PDP, was mistakenly shot dead by his members. They were the people shooting and breaking bottles, I was surprised by the allegation that I am the mastermind of his death”, Oluomo said.

    The Secretary to Oshodi 1 arm of the union,  Comrade Taiwo Bankole, said the man was killed by the PDP thugs.

    He said Oluomo instructed the campaign team to remain calm on  that day,  urging them to hide in a particular spot as the police were chasing the thugs away, even with a considerable distance between where the rally temporarily stop for the police to take their full responsibility of dispersing the hoodlums that were shooting to stop the rally, he added.

    Comrade Bankole, urged people to stop alleging Oluomo, is innocent of the death of the the late Eniola. He said henceforth, the union will not hesitate to take a legal action against any individual, organisation or media house publishing any falsehood against Oluomo.

  • Lagos NURTW backs Ambode for governor

    Lagos NURTW backs Ambode for governor

    Transport workers have been urged to support the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode.

    Lagos State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Tajudeen Agbede advised commercial drivers, motorcycle operators and tricycle owners (Keke Marwa) to vote for Ambode and other APC candidates in the April 11 governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    Agbede gave the advice yesterday at the monthly meeting with branch officers from the 120 branches from the 57 local governments and development area councils.

    He urged members of the union to show support for the APC because they have been enjoying the dividends of democracy.

    He said some of the policies of the Fashola administration had boosted the transport business.

    Agbede said the introduction of transport radio had reduced traffic congestion and loss of time in traffic

    He added that the constant repair and maintenance of roads  reduced wear and tear of vehicles.

    “The government usually responds by constantly fixing bad roads. We are partners in progress with the government, hence our members should reciprocate the gesture by voting the party in the April 11 governorship election,” Agbede said.

  • Oshodi mayhem

    Oshodi mayhem

    •There should be zero tolerance to fracas in this all-important Lagos commercial hub

    The last gang warfare at Oshodi, mainland Lagos, between elements of the local National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), is symptomatic of the sheer unpredictability of Nigerian national life.  Within a split second, motorists and innocent passersby found themselves trapped in a frightening gang war — with not a few of these ending up as victims of opportunistic robberies and muggings.

    That is certainly not good enough. Still, the Lagos State Police Command must be commended for bringing down the disturbance and arresting the alleged leading culprits.

    Briefing the media after an emergency state security council meeting at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, Kayode Aderanti, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP), gave an  update on the disturbance.

    “The Oshodi fracas is not political,” he told the press. “All the principal characters are in custody. Today, we have arraigned 18 of them and they are in jail.  And tomorrow,” he pledged, “I am going to arraign about 17 of them. I am not talking about foot soldiers. I am talking about the leaders of these people.”

    That was great news! It is no use arresting pawns, when the real players, who can cause mischief at the shortest of notices, walk free. Still on rounding up alleged ring leaders, CP Aderanti gave M.C. Oluomo, the Oshodi branch NURTW chairman, a final ultimatum to give himself up or be declared wanted. If Mr. Oluomo is indeed a suspect, the least he could do is give himself up for due investigation.

    Still, we hope the CP has carried out a thorough investigation before declaring that the fracas was not political. We have no cause to disbelieve him. Yet, we are not unaware that this is electioneering time; and that politicians have the penchant to use factions of road transport workers as foot soldiers, in thuggery wars.

    The CP also announced the ban on the sale of alcoholic drinks and drugs within 100 metres of the precincts of the motor parks. He warned that should anyone in the park community breach the ban, the police would have no choice but to take over the motor park and enforce a total ban on union activities.

    In these democratic times, it is heart-warming the police bans did not come from some arbitrary police code. Rather, it is the full enforcement of the Lagos State Road Traffic Law of 2012, a law which, at its enactment, drew great public enlightenments, concerning its provisions.

    Which is why it is amazing that barely two years into the new law, everyone appears to have gone snoring on its enforcement. It is bitter-sweet that the Oshodi fracas has stung the police to enforce that law. But it is also scandalous they had to wait for a crisis that claimed no less than three lives, a couple of burnt and vandalised vehicles and robberies on innocent citizens, doing their legitimate businesses.

    This is not good enough. Each day, there is enough police presence in Oshodi — which is good. What is not good is that, from how the fracas happened and the police reaction to curb future disturbances, it is clear that the police have not been at their optimum. If they had been, they would have fully enforced the new law, and perhaps had prevented the mayhem.

    So, while congratulating the police for rallying to curb the disturbance, they should in future try prevention, the worst of which is better than the best of cure. Oshodi is too important a commercial hub to be left to the whims and caprices of motor park thugs or to the sloppiness of the police in  enforcing extant laws.