Tag Archives: NURTW

Danfo ban: Don’t panic, Lagos NURTW tells members

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The National Union of Road Transport Workers, Lagos Chapter, on Tuesday advised its members not to panic over the proposed ban on operations of yellow commercial buses.

The state Chairman of the union, Mr. Tajudeen Agbede, on Tuesday said that the union was discussing the proposed ban with the government, adding that the union was ready to cooperate with the state government on its mega city project.

Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode had on February 6 announced a plan to stop operations of yellow commercial buses popularly known as ‘danfo’ for a more efficient, well-structured and world-class mass transport system.

Ambode said that the well-structured transport system would ease movement within the state and make Lagos cleaner without burdening the people in terms of taxes.

He said, “We are still discussing with the government on the proposed ban on yellow buses, but we believe it is going to yield a positive result.

“The union is ready to comply with the conditions of making the state a mega city.

“We are ready to change the colour of our buses and also comply with the directive to follow the service lanes.”

According to him, the union members are also ready to refurbish their vehicles to attain mega city standards.

NURTW, NACTOMORAS urge President Buhari to revert to old pump price of N87 per litre

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National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners & Riders Association (NACTOMORAS) have urged the Federal Government to revert to the old pump price of N87 per litre of petrol.

They reminded President Muhammadu Buhari that it was the grassroots people that voted him into power and hence he should feel their pains “or another time is coming”.

The associations while making presentations yesterday before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on the review of the pump price of petrol, headed by Raphael Nnanna Igbokwe, said in spite of the increases in petrol pump price, the country has ended up with “bad roads, power failure, unemployment, poverty, as well as medical care deterioration and high inflation of essential commodities”.

NURTW President Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin, who was represented by Mercy Ibeh of the union’s legal department, kicked against any planned hike in pump price and said the association rather preferred a downward review of the petrol price.

NACTOMORAS National President Alhaji Muhd Sani Hassan said: “We write to object, reject and disagree with any plan or move to increase the pump price of PMS fuel, without leniency, sympathy or consideration of the already depleted economic realities being experienced in the country.”

The association said hardship was being “meted out to millions of Nigerians, most especially our members, who are the grassroots transporters, with population of over 13,793,150 in the country”.
Hassan said of the fuel increments made by government since 1973, only the one of 1994 benefitted the masses through the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) projects.

“Therefore, if the government wanted to maintain its good name, it should abandon the idea of increase of the price and revert to the old price of N87.00 per litre.”

 

Police avert bloody clash in Kano State

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Many vehicles were damaged on Wednesday in Kano following a clash between operatives of Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) and some illegal motor park operators at Gyadi-gyadi area in Kano metropolis.

 

A witness told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, that the clash started around 11:00 a.m. when the KAROTA officials stormed the illegal motor park.

 

The witness said trouble started when the KAROTA officials wanted to stop the park operators, who were members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, from carrying passengers at the park.

 

It was gathered that many vehicles belonging to both parties were damaged during the fracas.

 

The timely arrival of armed police officers at the scene prevented what would have been a bloody clash between the two warring groups

 

Magaji Majiya, the Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the clash, saying that the command had since deployed officials to the area to restore peace and order.

 

“As I am talking to you now, we are at the scene and normalcy had since been restored in the area.

 

“No casualty was recorded, but a number of vehicles belonging to both sides were damaged,” Mr. Majiya, a deputy superintendent of police, said.

 

He said that the police had ordered immediate closure of the park until the issue was resolved between the state government and owners of the park.

 

He said the police had commenced investigation into the matter to find out the cause of the incident.

 

Source: Premium Times

Gunshots Rock Kano As Road Transport Workers Clash With Traffic Officials

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An early morning clash between officials of the Kano State Road Traffic Agency ( KAROTA) and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) caused huge panic in the Kano metropolis on Wednesday. The clash, which took place on Zaria Road, featured sporadic gunshots.

 

Policemen attached to KAROTA shot into the air for about 20 minutes, with passers-by fleeing at the sound of gunshots and sign of billowing gunsmoke.

 

SaharaReporters gathered that the clash was a result of KAROTA officials’ attempt to stop NURTW members from loading their vehicles with passengers at the Zaria Road Roundabout.

 

In protest, NURTW members made bonfires and started yelling at KAROTA officials, who were accompanied to Zaria Road by policemen.

 

Kano State Police Command spokesman, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Magaji Musa Majia, said he had not received the full report of the incident as at the time of filing this report.

 

Source: Sahara Reporters

NURTW Tells Members to Obey Traffic Rules, Regulations

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The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Gombe State Chapter, has urged its members to always obey traffic rules and regulations in order to reduce road accidents.

The state chairman of the union, Alhaji Ibrahim Bala, made this call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe on Friday.

“They should always follow traffic rules and regulations so as to reduce road crashes, protect lives and property, more especially as the festive season approaches,” he said.

He said that the union had earlier made efforts by sensitising members of the branch offices on the need for them to always obey traffic rules and regulations.

“We have discussed with the branch chairmen, their secretaries and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on the way forward to make sure that we do not record more accidents this season,” he said.

He lauded the FRSC officials and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) for their tireless efforts in sensitising the members of the union to ensure safe driving.

Bala also lauded the Federal Government for rehabilitating roads across the country.

He said that the rehabilitation of roads would help to reduce road crashes to the barest minimum not only in the state but the country in general.

NURTW Advocates Rail Transportation For Petroleum Products

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Alhaji lssa Ore, Chairman, Kwara branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), has appealed to the Federal Government to direct the use of rail transport for distribution of petroleum products.

 

He made the call a press conference in Ilorin on Sunday.

 

The chairman reiterated the need for government to enact law for the use of four wheel vehicles, only to ply Nigerian roads, while heavy loads should be transported via the rails.

 

Ore said the move had become imperative because such would guide against fuel diversion and extend the life span of roads.

 

“If considered, it will not only reduce damage on Nigerian roads but make the roads to last longer.”

 

The NURTW chairman urged the government to fix all the refineries and the depots to ensure adequate supply of the product

 

He noted that 75 per cent of fuel consumed in the country was by members of his union.

 

He held that if government failed to put things right, the union might be forced to increase transport fare.

 

He said in spite the fact that there was arbitrary increase in the prices of fuel, members of the union had refused to increase transport fares.

 

Ore also stressed the need for government to expand and repair all major federal roads across the country, so as to reduce accidents on the highways.

 

The chairman said the union was collaborating with the FRSC on its speed limiter aimed at reducing accidents the roads.

 

He, however, called for reduction in the cost of the equipment.

 

 

 

(NAN)