The Lagos State Government has suspended all activities of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) with immediate effect.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa said the suspension became imperative following pockets of violence recorded in Ojo and Lagos Island on Wednesday, adding that a 35-member caretaker committee has been constituted to take over activities of the union.
On Wednesday, two persons were believed to have been killed during a clash involving factional members of the RTEAN in the Iyana Iba and Lagos Island areas of the state.
During the supremacy clash between the factions, the union members were seen in a trending video clip engaging themselves in a free-for-all fight, using stones, bottles, cutlasses, and other dangerous weapons.
The situation created tension that sent shivers down the spines of residents and business owners in the areas.
Giwa’s statement on Thursday reads: “The Head of the Caretaker Committee is Hon. Sulaiman Adeshina Raji with Bamgbose Oluseyi as Deputy Chairman. Other members of the Committee include Sunday Aransiola, Sulaiman Onabanjo, Azeez Abdulrahman, Isiaka Seriki, Victor Ifemenam, Kareem Babatunde, Amusan Abdulrahman, Teslim Adeshina, Sulaiman Surajudeen and Fatai Rauf.
“Sunday Banjo, Segun Omole, Thomas Akinkayode, Taiwo Lasisi, Gbenga Kashimawo, Samson Ajala, Taiwo Daodu, Sule Aliu, Ahmed Musa and Oladipupo Ibrahim. Adewale Adeniyi, Olatunji Durojaiye, Wasiu Olanrewaju, Taofeek Onileola, Yusuf Afolabi, Bode Ogungbade, Alh. A. A. Ussaini, Saliu Usman, Saheed Badru, Kolawole Yusuf, Kayode Thomas, Idowu Oyewole and Salami Babatunde Ope are also members of the Committee”.
He reiterated that the constitution of the committee was necessary to prevent further acts of violence in the state, stressing that men of the state Police Command would be deployed across the state to enforce the suspension and ensure the safety of lives and property.
The Special Adviser also said that the government met with some representatives of the RTEAN following a protest by some members of the union demanding the removal of their National President.
He said that government assured the RTEAN members of a thorough investigation of the allegations leveled against the National President with a promise to resolve all lingering issues.
