Bloodbath averted in Lagos Island as NURTW, traders resolve impasse

LAGOS, Nigeria –What would have been a bloodbath   between members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), residents and traders at Itafaji area of Lagos Island over collection of levies from commercial vehicle drivers was on Friday averted, following peaceful resolution of the impasse.

It was reliably gathered that the Chairman of Lagos Island local government and the Chairman of Lagos Island LCDA respectively gave approval to the NURTW Chairman, Oyebanji branch, Alhaji Mustapha Seego to start collecting loading and off-loading levies from traders at Alli Street, Itafaji area of the State.

Source narrated that Alhaji Seego however invited some of his colleagues from other NURTW branches in other areas on the Island to visit Alli Street to fine-tune how his boys will be collecting the money from commercial drivers and Igbo traders who want to load or off-load in the area.

According to sources, the news about the new development circulated immediately to the residents and Igbo traders at Itafaji area who held series of meetings and resolved to resist the operation legally and physically.

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 “This development generated lots of discussion among the residents who condemned the operation with the opinion that the NURTW representatives who always use force to collect money will bring chaos to the peaceful area”.

“We then resolved that we will resist the activities with all our power by petitioning the State Governor and copy the Commissioner of Police, Area Commander and all DPOs in Lagos Island”.

“Also, we will combat them with all dangerous weapons the NURTW members are use to threaten people. Though, we are peace loving people but will we resist them with all our ability, even if we are to sacrifice our lives”, he added.

When our correspondent visited one of the CDA Chairmen in the area, he confirmed to have received petitions from different residents in the area, vowing to resist the NURTW operation.

Speaking with the President of the Igbo traders in the area under the umbrella of ACSATAON, Dr. Chris Onyekachi Simon confirmed the move by the NURTW operation which his members totally condemned and threatened to use legal action to stop the operation.

He however hinted, “As the President of the Igbo traders association, I have to call the State Chairman of the NURTW, MC Oluomo over the matter, he now directed Alhaji Seego to see me to discuss on how his boys operation will not cause mayhem and affect my people and residents of the area”.

Onyekachi, as he is  fondly called in the area said, “When Alhaji Seego came with his men to my office at Alli Street, we had long discussion and later resolved that the NURTW men will be giving ticket to the drivers of commercial vehicles that want to do loading and off-loading at the Tinubu junction of Alli Street before they enter the Street, while the exorbitant charge was cancelled for the daily ticket”.

“We thank God for resolving the expected mayhem amicably and I’ve briefed my people about our resolution, while the CDAs Chairmen in the area were also informed, with the assurance to the residents that there will not be any problem” he added.

Although, efforts to get Alhaji Seego proved abortive to confirm the resolution but some of his boys who had started coming to the Street were not there again. They were only seen at Alli Street junction when our correspondent visited the area.