On Monday, members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) alongside a civil society group held demonstrations throughout Osogbo. The participants demanded the ousting of Nurudeen Alowonle, a factional union leader, citing rising security threats.
The protest route spanned various key locations, including Old Garage, Olaiya, and Aregbe Motor Park. Demonstrators briefly halted operations at several parks to voice their lack of confidence in the current leadership. Fatai Oyegoke, a factional secretary for the NURTW, stated that the ongoing internal dispute has severely hampered transport activities and endangered the welfare of workers.
Oyegoke urged the Inspector-General of Police and regional security forces to increase protection at transport hubs. He also requested an official investigation into recent violent events in the area. Omololu Abidoye of the Local Government Development Initiative echoed these concerns, emphasizing that public safety must be prioritized over internal union squabbles.
Additional criticism came from Akeem Kareem, a representative of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, who alleged that political tensions were driving unfair treatment within the union. While Mukaila Popoola, an official from Alowonle’s camp, declined to comment, the allegations against the leadership remain unverified.
