The Lagos State Government has suspended activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Oshodi indefinitely following the death of a leader of Motorcycle Operators’ Association of Lagos State (MOALS), Alhaji Rasaq Bello, popularly known as Hamburger.
Bello, 49, was killed on Monday, May 29 in the aftermath of the violence that broke out between rival gangs in Shogunle, Oshodi during the All Progressives Congress (APC) councillorship primaries.
NURTW branches affected by the suspension are LOB A, LOB D, LOB J, Oshodi A, Oshodi B, Oshodi C and Oshodi D.
The state government, in a news conference jointly addressed by officials of the state, the police and NURTW at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, said while the suspension order lasts, there would be no collection of tickets/fees from commuter buses operating in the area.
Addressing the briefing, acting Commissioner for Transportation, Prince Olanrewaju Elegushi, said throughout the duration of the suspension order, a team of state government officials and security personnel would be mandated to oversee and monitor the transport operations within the affected branches to ensure NURTW members do not collect any ticket or fees from transport operators.
He said the suspension order was taken after due consultation with all the relevant stakeholders concerning the crisis, and that it would remain in force until peace and tranquillity returned to the area, adding that the lifting of the ban would only be based on appropriate security reports.
“For the avoidance of doubt, police investigations are ongoing on the said death and all persons found culpable will be prosecuted in line with the dictates of the laws.
“It is important to also emphasis that all rumour mongering, insinuations and unfounded/unverified facts should be avoided in the sake of peaceful co-existence.
“Any escalation of the crisis arising from the ban will lead to government taking sterner actions against the branches where violence is recorded,” Elegushi said.
He said as part of the strategies to permanently address incessant crisis arising from activities of transport unions, the state government has already put in place the Bus Reform Initiative (BRI) through which 5,000 air-conditioned and convenient buses would be injected into the transport sector, adding that the initiative would soon be launched.
Also speaking, Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations in the State, Mr Imohimi Edgal, confirmed that some arrests have been made following the crisis and that investigation had started in respect of the violence.
He assured that anyone found culpable in the crisis would be prosecuted in accordance with the law, and that the state government, in partnership with the police and other relevant stakeholders were working towards a lasting peace.
Edgal added that the report of the preliminary investigation by the police would be out before the end of the week.
On his part, Lagos State Chairman of NURTW, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede said the branch was in support of the decision of government to suspend all union activities in Oshodi indefinitely, saying that the union was adequately consulted before the action was taken.
“I like to confirm that the decision of the state government to suspend union activities in Oshodi was supported by us. We also want a lasting peace in Oshodi and we know that with this decision, people can go about their duties without let or hindrance.
“I am sure if the union had handled the issue of Oshodi, we would have arrived at the same decision to suspend activities for now and I want to urge our members to cooperate with government in its bid to ensure lasting peace.
“Going forward, we have been educating our members on the need to eschew violence and we still want to reiterate it that anyone caught perpetrating violence would be dealt with in accordance with the law,” Agbede said.
