Obalende clash: Lagos NURTW, RTEAN sign peace accord

Lagos chapters of the National Union of Road Transport Workers and the Road Transport Employer Association of Nigeria have met over control of garage operations that recently led to a clash in the Obalende area of the state.

The meeting which lasted for four hours was convened by the state government and held in Ikeja.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Oluwatoyin Fayinka, presided over the meeting with two unions representatives, led by their Chairmen, NURTW, Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya, (MC Oluomo) and the Vice Chairman RTEAN, Chief Gbenga Elesho, in attendance.

Fayinka stated that the meeting became necessary in view of the recent clash between both parties at Obalende Lagos, on Thursday, February 11, 2021 and the need for the immediate resolution to forestall a reoccurrence.

Responding to the issue that degenerated into the clash, the Lagos State Treasurer for NURTW, Mr. Mustapha Adekunle, (Sego) stated that the disagreement was over the control of park unit of which both parties had agreed on its operation.

He further explained that the agreement which has to do with operation of tricycles in one of the units under the control of RTEAN was denied access by NURTW for their minibuses operation.

Confirming the Ttreasurer’s position on the issue, MC Oluomo said the boundary operation crisis that ensued between the unions could have been averted like many others that could have degenerated into crisis had been amicably settled in the past.

He reiterated the peaceful coexistence between both parties, calling for peaceful resolution.

On the part of RTEAN, the State Secretary, Mr. Amusan Olalekan, also explained that the clash was avoidable going by the agreement of both unions to maintain the peace which had existed for long.

The RTEAN’s Vice Chairman, Chief Gbenga Elesho, stated that some other parks which were initially under the control of his union had been taken over by NURTW, part of which cumulated into the clash.

Addressing the two parties on the need for amicable settlement, the Special Adviser urged both parties for suggestions that would enhance peaceful resolution.

At the end of the deliberation, both parties agreed that pending the return of tricycle operation by NURTW at Obalende, RTEAN will continue with the operation of their minibuses, with welfare fees paid to NURTW.

“This peaceful agreement will be signed by both parties at the Ministry of Transportation,” said Fayinka.