Following the violence that led
to the death of a leader of Motorcycle Operators’ Association of Lagos State
(MOALS) in Oshodi, Alhaji Rasaq Bello popularly known as Hamburger, the State
Government on Monday suspended activities of the National Union of Road
Transport Workers (NURTW) in all the seven branches in the area indefinitely.
The State Government, at 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 no issuance of tickets or collection of money from commercial
vehicles operating in the area.
He said the ban will affect all
the seven branches of the National Union of Road Transport Workers operating in
Oshodi area. The affected branches are LOB A, LOB D, LOB J, Oshodi A, Oshodi B,
Oshodi C and Oshodi D.
Addressing the briefing, the
State’s 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 they 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 tranquility returned
to the area, adding that the lifting of the ban would only be based on
appropriate security reports.
He said: “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 threatened.
He said as part of the strategies
to permanently address incessant crisis arising from activities of transport
unions in the State, 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.Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
“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
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