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NURTW S’West leaders slam NLC over transport union’s crisis
NURTW S’West leaders slam NLC over transport union’s crisis
Some leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the South-West have blamed the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led by Joe Ajaero over the lingering leadership crisis with the transport body.
The leaders gave the position in a statement issued on Tuesday under the auspices of the South-West NURTW Forum and signed by Alhaji Nosiru Komolafe, a two-term National Treasurer of the union.
They specifically accused the NLC of bias, claiming it decided to take sides when the crisis started.
They stated that if the leadership of the NLC had played its role as unbiased umpire the crisis could have been nipped in the bud.
This, they said, was not done and it allowed the crisis to fester, resulting in litigations and creation of factions.
Komolafe recalled, “The the union under Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin adopted a rotational presidency so as to give all the six geopolitical zones a sense of belonging.
“And the whole arrangements started with Yoruba and Baruwa was put forward as the Yoruba candidate, despite serious opposition from Ogun State council, his home state.”
Komolafe explained that at Baruwa’s inauguration as president in 2019, all the six states in South West were under the umbrella of the union.
“But shortly after resuming office, he started causing confusion between the union and various state governments and because of his uncompromising attitude, nearly all the state governments in South West were forced to proscribe the union in their various states (Oyo,Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Lagos).
“So, by the time he was preparing for a second term, there was no union in the South West again to endorse him.”
He said the aggrieved members of the union from Lagos, Oyo and Ogun states wrote a series of protest letters/petitions to the NLC, stating all the alleged atrocities of Baruwa, but ignored them until the problems escalated.
He said, “And to our surprise, since the beginning of the crisis, the NLC has pitched its tent with Baruwa against the rest of union members.
“The NLC that’s supposed to be an impartial arbiter decided to take sides contrary to the disposition of the past leaders of NLC such as Pascal Bafyau, Abdulwahid Omar and Adams Oshiomhole had waded into the union crisis without necessarily aligning with any faction but the reverse is the case under Joe Ajaero who wants to install Baruwa at all costs because of his own selfish and sinister motive.”
According to him, members of the union, especially in the South-West cannot endure “another four years of suffering and stagnation under Baruwa, hence the decision to endorse Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya as our candidate for the presidency.”
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First Daughter of Murtala Muhammed Reflects on Life Without Father, Preserving His Legacy
First Daughter of Murtala Muhammed Reflects on Life Without Father, Preserving His Legacy
Aisha Muhammed Oyebode, the first daughter of late General Murtala Ramat Muhammed, has opened up about the challenges of growing up without her father, the late military head of state assassinated on February 13, 1976, and her ongoing work in philanthropy, governance, and education.
In an exclusive interview, Aisha, who is a lawyer, entrepreneur, author, activist, and philanthropist, described losing her father at age 12 as a profoundly harrowing experience. She recalled the “silence of absence” and the “noise of expectation” that followed his death, explaining that she had to grow up quickly while navigating the pressures of public scrutiny and preserving her father’s legacy.
“My father treated corruption as an emergency, not a talking point. He believed in strong leadership, discipline, clarity of purpose, and a deep commitment to Nigeria,” she said.
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Aisha also highlighted the stabilizing role of her mother, Ajoke Muhammed, who raised six children after the assassination, instilling discipline, resilience, and a focus on education.
Currently, Aisha is the Group CEO of Asset Management Group Limited and the CEO of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF), where she champions girls’ education and youth empowerment. She noted that, particularly in northern Nigeria, female primary net attendance rates are as low as 47.3–47.7%, with young women’s illiteracy reaching 70.8%.
“From our experience, the solution to girls’ education must be holistic — removing economic barriers, ensuring safety, fostering community ownership, and making education relevant to livelihoods,” she said.
She emphasized that educating girls stabilizes families and strengthens the nation, adding that the MMF Foundation has been instrumental in providing scholarships, school feeding programs, and community initiatives to enhance female education.
Reflecting on her father’s legacy, Aisha described him as a man of humility, vision, and principle, whose simple resting place in Kano reflects a life devoted to duty rather than display. She and her siblings have committed to refurbishing his grave and that of their brother Zack while carrying forward his vision through their work.
“A grave does not hold a legacy — people do. The real monument to his memory is in how we choose to live, and the kind of Nigeria we are willing to build,” she said.
Aisha’s reflections combine personal remembrance, national history, and advocacy, highlighting the enduring influence of Murtala Muhammed on his family and the nation, while underscoring the importance of education, integrity, and principled leadership in Nigeria today.
First Daughter of Murtala Muhammed Reflects on Life Without Father, Preserving His Legacy
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Anambra Police Arrest Motel Owner, Two Others Over Firearms, Drug Trafficking
Anambra Police Arrest Motel Owner, Two Others Over Firearms, Drug Trafficking
The Anambra State Police Command has arrested three individuals, including a motel owner, in Uke, Idemili North Local Government Area, for alleged possession of illegal firearms and involvement in illicit drug activities.
Police spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga disclosed that the suspects — Ifeanyi Ibeabuchi (39), Abdullahi Shaibu (26), and Obah Chima (18) — were apprehended by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad Awkuzu following credible intelligence.
The raid, carried out in the late hours of February 9, 2026, led to the seizure of multiple controlled substances, including Cannabis Sativa, Crystal Methamphetamine, Colos, and Mkpuru-mmiri. Authorities also recovered a Jojef pump action gun (breach number 21SA-0724) loaded with three live cartridges at the scene.
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Ikenga noted that Ibeabuchi confessed to the offenses during initial investigations, which helped law enforcement track and arrest the two other suspects.
“The Command reiterates its commitment to sustaining ongoing operations against criminal elements in the state and urges members of the public to continue providing useful information to aid policing efforts. Further developments will be communicated as the investigation progresses,” the spokesperson said.
The Anambra State Police Command has vowed to continue targeted operations against firearms and drug-related crimes, reinforcing efforts to enhance public safety in the state.
Anambra Police Arrest Motel Owner, Two Others Over Firearms, Drug Trafficking
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2 Nigerians Killed While Fighting for Russian Army in Ukraine War
2 Nigerians Killed While Fighting for Russian Army in Ukraine War
Two Nigerian men have reportedly died while serving in the Russian Armed Forces during the ongoing Russia–Ukraine War in eastern Luhansk.
The deceased, Hamzat Kazeen Kolawole, 42, and Mbah Stephen Udoka, 38, were reportedly attached to the 423rd Guards Motor Rifle Regiment of the 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Tank Division, according to Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence. Their bodies were discovered in late November 2025, highlighting the growing risks faced by foreign nationals recruited into Russia’s military operations.
Kolawole and Udoka reportedly signed contracts with the Russian army in the second half of 2025 — Kolawole on August 29 and Udoka on September 28. Udoka received no formal military training and was sent to the front just five days after enlistment on October 3. Kolawole also appears to have been deployed with minimal preparation, raising concerns over the treatment of foreign recruits.
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The men were killed in a drone strike while attempting to storm Ukrainian positions, and Ukrainian authorities reported that they did not engage in conventional combat before their deaths. Kolawole is survived by a wife and three children in Nigeria.
Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence has used the incident to caution foreign nationals against travelling to Russia for employment, warning that recruits may be sent into dangerous combat units with little or no training. The deaths come amid increased recruitment of foreign fighters from Africa into Russian forces, sparking concern among human rights and foreign policy observers.
This development highlights the risks associated with participation in the Ukraine conflict as a foreign mercenary and underscores the humanitarian and security issues arising from the recruitment of untrained personnel into active combat zones.
2 Nigerians Killed While Fighting for Russian Army in Ukraine War
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