Some of the affected motor parks where fracas were reported are Kuto, Lafenwa, Brewery, Ita Oshin, and Obantoko, among others.

There were reports of gunshots during the ensuing melee, while the union members were also said to have macheted themselves.

Central to this feud, according to a source, was an alleged attempt by the recently reinstated leadership of the NURTW under Alhaji Ismail Adewale, popularly called Yaro, to take over the collection of this week’s revenue from motor parks, whereas it is allegedly the turn of OGSPAM.

The source said, “The fracas is about leadership; it is about who is in charge of collecting the union’s tickets for the government.”

It was gathered that these three unions, NURTW, OGSPAM, and RTEAN, were responsible for the collection of revenue for the state government.

The state government had created OGSPAM after NURTW activity was suspended in the state in 2021.

A popular leader of the NURTW, Akeem Abodunrin, known as Iyeru, was made the chairman of OGSPAM to undertake the government sales of union tickets in the absence of NURTW.

But in October 2023, the ban was said to have been lifted, and NURTW was brought back under the leadership of Ismail Adewale, popularly called Yaro.

It was further gathered that early in March, the Commissioner for Transportation, Engr. Gbenga Dairo, directed both NURTW and OGSPAM to rotate the sales of the government tickets with the view to fostering peace among the unions.

By this arrangement, RTEAN will sell tickets for two weeks while NURTW and OGSPAM will sell tickets for one week respectively.

Sources in the union, however, said that trouble started gathering momentum when the commissioner again told the leadership of OGSPAM to step down while NURTW takes over the week that should ordinarily be for OGSPAM.

Also, a former Assistant Inspector General of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, was appointed as the Liaison Officer between the government and the committee.

This was contained in a press statement by the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, titled, “Lagos govt sets up Parks Management Committee”.

An ex-Permanent Secretary, Dr. Taiwo Salaam, was also appointed as the secretary of the committee while Sulyman Ojora was appointed as the Deputy Chairman.

The appointments were announced less than four weeks after the Lagos State Governmrnt denied plans to appoint MC Oluomo chairman of the parts committee.

The PUNCH reports that the Lagos State government suspended the activities of NURTW in all parks and garages across the state after MC Oluomo was suspended by NURTW national body.

The statement read, “The Lagos State Government has set up a committee to oversee the affairs of all motor parks and garages in the state. This is in fulfillment of the Government’s promise to ensure that events in the National Union of Road Transport Workers are not allowed to threaten law and order.

The Government has, therefore, exercised its constitutional powers to ensure that no vacuum, which can disrupt the peace of our dear state,is allowed to exist in the parks. This is a duty we owe all Lagosians and visitors.

“Members of the committee, who have been selected following consultations with stakeholders in the sector, are:

1. Mr. Hakeem Odumosu (AIG Rtd) – Government Liaison Officer
2. Alh Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya – Chairman
3. Alh Sulyman B. Ojora – (Deputy Chairman )
4. Dr. Taiwo Olufemi Salaam (Secretary)
5. Comrade Olayiwola Lemboye
6. Alh Mustapha Adekunle
7. Alh Ganiyu Shittu
8. Alh Mukaila Runsewe
9. Alh Sulyman Yusuf
10. Alh Mufutau Mutiu
11. Alh Yinka Hassan
12. Alh Sunday Ogunleye
13. Alh Moshood Omojowa
14. Alh Ismaila Aigoro
15. Alh Ibrahim Yusuf. O
16. Alh Akeem Tijani
17. Mrs Omolabake Adelakun
18. Comrade Kazeem Hassan
19. Alh Wasiu Amole
20. Alh Ganiyu Ayinde
21. Anthony Adeyinka Adeboye
22. John Victor Owolabi
23. Saburi Salami
24. Ibrahim Onitiju
25. Odusanya Gbenga

“Members of the committee are to report to the Ministry of Transportation, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja.

“The Government on March 10 suspended NURTW operations in all parks and garages, following the tension sparked by some events in the union.”

Akinsanya’s Media Aide, Jimoh Buhari, made this known in a chat with The PUNCH on Wednesday while reacting to the purported sacking of his principal.

According to him, members of the Tajudeen Baruwa-led NURTW caucus in Abuja are comedians who claimed to sack Akinsanya who already pulled out of the union on March 10, 2022.

He said, “The so-called sacking of my boss makes no difference. NURTW has already been suspended in Lagos and the state government has said that it would appoint park managers in the state.

So, the appointment of a new Lagos chairman by NURTW is baseless. The union has already been suspended. Is the union more powerful than the state government? Of course, no.

“Also, my boss (MC Oluomo) already pulled out of the NURTW since March 10, 2022, at a well-publicised press briefing in Agege. So, how would the Baruwa-led Abuja caucus claim it has sacked someone who already dissociated himself from the union? It is like sacking a worker who resigned and left a company after one month. It is laughable and senseless.”

Following the crisis rocking the union, Akinsanya pulled out in March after his suspension by the national leadership of the NURTW.

He also asked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to take over the running of all parks and garages in the state till peace returned to the union.

Sanwo-Olu later suspended the activities of NURTW from all parks and garages with immediate effect and set up a committee to take control of the parks and garages but he was yet to do so after one month.

The NURTW had also been suspended in Ondo, Oyo and some other South-West states due to intractable leadership crises.

According to a 2021 report by the International Centre for Investigative Report, the Lagos chapter of NURTW generates about N123.08bn annually, which could service the annual budget of Nasarawa, Niger, and Yobe states put together.

Members of the union last Thursday protested against the alleged interference of the state government in the affairs of the union.

The protesters alleged that the state government was planning to impose the immediate past chairman of the union, Mr Jacob Adebo, for a second term in office.

In a statement by the Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Mr kenneth Odusola-Stevenson, on Sunday, the government said activities of the union in public parks had been suspended.

The statement was titled ‘Ondo State Government sets up park management committee.’

According to the statement, the immediate former chairman of the union, Adebo was appointed the chairman of the committee while Mr Bayode Gbenga was named as the Secretary.

The statement read, “Consequent upon protracted crisis in the National Union of Road Transport Workers operating in the public motor parks in Ondo State, the government has intervened by setting up Motor Park Management Committee to manage and administer all the public motor parks in the state.The government noted the unfortunate unending crisis and litigation involving the union in court which has adversely affected activities in the public motor parks in the state.The government therefore has decided to take over all the public motor parks in the state and set-up a committee to administer same. The union’s activities in public parks in the state are accordingly suspended.”

The National Public Relations Officer of the union, Chukwudi Asogwa, confirmed the suspension on Thursday.

“Yes, it is true. The letter you saw in circulation is from the national headquarters,” he said.

The suspension letter was signed by NURTW’s General Secretary, Kabiru Yau, and dated March 9th, 2022.

In the letter, the union leader was suspended over alleged misconduct, insubordination, and inciting members of the state chapter against its national body.

With the development, the NURTW directed Akinsanya to hand over to his deputy chairman and release all property belonging to the union in his possession.

The letter read, “This is to convey to you that in line with Article 42 section 5, subsection I, II, III, IV, V, and VIII of the union’s constitution, you have been placed on indefinite suspension from office as State Chairman of Lagos State Council of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) with effect from March 9th, 2021.Your suspension is sequel to sustained acts of insubordination and gross misconduct coupled with your clandestine plans to instigate crisis and unleash mayhem on any branch or branches of the union in Lagos state that refuses to obey your order or instructions not to accept directives from the national headquarters of the Union. Your orchestrated plan to attack branches that may disobey your orders aforesaid will ultimately endanger public peace and order in Lagos state. It is also very likely to threaten and/or affect the lives and property of the peace-loving people of Lagos state, particularly those doing their legitimate businesses within motor parks, hence the urgent need to take drastic actions against him.It is on record that you were earlier issued with queries on 25th of February 2022 and 3rd of March, 2022 respectively in which you were directed to explain the circumstances surrounding your untoward actions and to also show cause why disciplinary actions should not be taken against you for such acts of insubordination. You bluntly neglected/refuse to respond to the second query, while your response to the first query was unsatisfactory.In view of your suspension, you are hereby directed to hand over the mantle of leadership of the Lagos State Council to the State Deputy Chairman and also surrender all Union properties in your possession to the State Secretary of the Union forthwith.”

Buhari stated this while reacting to a viral letter by the NURTW national leadership in Abuja reportedly suspending MC Oluomo as Lagos chair.

The letter dated March 9, 2022 and signed by NURTW General Secretary, Kabiru Yau, said MC Oluomo has been suspended indefinitely for gross misconduct amongst other offences. Yau subsequently directed MC Oluomo to hand over to his deputy.

But Buhari said that his principal has not received any letter to the effect of the reported suspension.

He said, “As far as we are concerned, we are not aware of the suspension because we have not received any letter from the national leadership.A leader of an organisation cannot be suspended on social media.MC Oluomo is going into a meeting at the moment and he is going to chair the meeting. He remains Lagos NURTW chair.”

Among other allegations in the query dated February 14, 2022, Akinsanya was also accused of resorting to intimidation, harassment, and assault on the newly-appointed Chairman, Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria, Azeez Abiola, aka Istijabah.

In his response, Akinsanya, who said he had successfully complied with his oath of office, refuted the claim that he instigated members of the union to assault Abiola

He, however, noted that the legality of the TOOAN operations in the state is a subject of a suit pending before the National Industrial Court.

Akinsanya also refuted claims of engaging in acts of insubordination and anti-union activities in the state.

MC Oluomo is accused of insubordination and misconduct bordering on inciting members of the union against the national body.

The decision was taken after a query was sent to MC Oluomo over alleged meddlesomenes in Union matters, as well as a protest staged by his supporters during which they accused the union at national level of unnecessarily interfering in the state affairs.

In a letter signed by the general secretary of the NURTW, Kabiru Yau, the NURTW boss was accused of incitement to violence and planning attacks on branches that refuse to obey his order of not accepting directives from the national headquarters of the union.

The national body of the union directed MC Oluomo to immediately hand over the mantle of leadership to his deputy chairman and release all property belonging to the transport body in his possession to State Secretary, in a bid to avoid any leadership vacuum in the state.

It’s reads: This is to convey to you that in line with Article 42 section 5, subsection I, II, III, IV, V, and VIII of the union’s constitution, you have been placed on indefinite suspension from office as State Chairman of Lagos State Council of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) with effect from March 9th, 2021.Your suspension is sequel to sustained acts of insubordination and gross misconduct coupled with your clandestine plans to instigate crisis and unleash mayhem on any branch or branches of the union in Lagos state that refuses to obey your order or instructions not to accept directives from the national headquarters of the Union.Your orchestrated plan to attack branches that may disobey your orders aforesaid will ultimately endanger public peace and order in Lagos state. It is also very likely to threaten and/or affect the lives and property of the peace-loving people of Lagos state, particularly those doing their legitimate businesses within motor parks, hence the urgent need to take drastic actions against him.It is on record that you were earlier issued with queries on 25th of February 2022 and 3rd of March, 2022 respectively in which you were directed to explain the circumstances surrounding your untoward actions and to also show cause why disciplinary actions should not be taken against you for such acts of insubordination. You bluntly neglected/refuse to respond to the second query, while your response to the first query was unsatisfactory.In view of your suspension, you are hereby directed to hand over the mantle of leadership of the Lagos State Council to the State Deputy Chairman and also surrender all Union properties in your possession to the State Secretary of the Union forthwith.

Lagos State Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, made this known

“It is a suspension in the area where there was trouble, not a general suspension in the state,” Omotosho said

Also, the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Transportation, Oluwatoyin Fayinka, in a statement on Tuesday, said NURTW operations are suspended at Eyin Eyo, Church Street and Idumota Bridge indefinitely due to the recent violence in those areas

The statement was titled, ‘LASG Suspends NURTW Activities At Eyin Eyo, Church Street And Idumota Bridge’.

Fayinka said the decision was taken at a stakeholders’ meeting comprising NURTW, Central Business District and Lagos State Market Women Association (Iya Oloja General and Iya Oloja of Lagos Island) on Tuesday.

Fayinka further stated that the Rapid Response Squad will station an Armored Personnel Carrier on Idumota Bridge to deter motorists from driving against traffic in compliance with traffic Rules and Regulations and to enforce the suspension of the NURTW within the axis and simultaneously flush out the Oju Opake boys lurking along Plaza around Church Street axis.

Also suspended are the activities of the transport union at Church Street and John Street particularly Keke Marwa and Mini Buses (Korope).

“State Security Operatives are hereby put on Red Alert to ensure Safety and Security of lives and property in Lagos Island and environs,” Fayinka stated.

The Lagos State Rapid Response Squad had on Monday arrested prominent NURTW members in the state, Kunle Poly and Sego.

The police said Kunle Poly and Sego are principal suspects in the recurring clashes in Idumota and its environs.

The latest clash which occurred last Thursday had intermittently crippled commercial activities in the area.

“The arrest was effected today at a meeting where the two NURTW members along with some other stakeholders converged.Kunle Poly and Sego are currently being transferred to Zone II, Onikan, Lagos,” the RRS said in a statement.

Two persons were feared killed during a clash between two factional members of a transport union in the Idumota area of Lagos.

The two factions – Eyo boys, reportedly loyal to a union leader known as Kunle Poly, and Kosoko boys – have been at loggerheads over control of territory in the bustling commercial centre.

It was gathered that Eyo boys expected Kosoko boys collecting levies from commercial bus drivers on Idumota Bridge to make returns but the latter declined

The growing tension reportedly erupted in a clash around 12pm on Thursday as hoodlums fired gunshots and brandished cutlasses.

One person was said to have been shot dead while another bled to death from machete cuts inflicted on him.

The violence forced traders in markets around the area to abruptly shut down their shops and run for dear life.

Videos of the clash went viral on Friday, with one of the clips showing a bloodied youth being carried away in a wheelbarrow as people ran helter-skelter.

However, normalcy was restored to the area on Friday as policemen and soldiers were stationed in strategic points around the scene but commercial activities had yet to fully return.

Channels TV reports that Ekpo who was a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress was at a rally organized by the party at Oriade Local Development Area when the gunmen invaded the rally on Thursday, July 8 and shot him dead. Eyewitnesses said a gunshot was heard from the crowd outside while the meeting was on, forcing residents involved at the rally to scamper to safety. The report states that when those inside the hall rushed to the scene, Kayode was found in the pool of his blood.

Confirming the incident, Jimoh Buhari, spokesperson of the NURTW Chairman, Musiliu Akinsanya, said the deceased was trying to protect a fellow politician when he was killed.

Jimoh said “He was protecting a fellow politician, Wale Yusuf, from harassment when the gunmen shot him dead”