Lagos Transport Unions Accept New Traffic Laws

Mr Olufemi Ajewole, Na tional President, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), said in Lagos last Tuesday that his union would abide with the new traffic laws of the state government.

Ajewole, who gave the pledge while speaking with our correspondent added that government had the right to regulate activities partaining to road traffic.

He said that since the law was to bring discipline and sanity on the roads, there was the need to comply with it.

Ajewole said that although he was still studying the traffic law gazette, he was sure that the contents would not be negative to his members..

“The Federal Government established two transport unions known as RTEAN and National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW); but the state government have the right to regulate their activities, especially those that might cause nuisance on the roads, “ he said.

Also, the NURTW National President, Alh. Nojeem Yasin, said that he had promised the state government that his members would comply with the traffic laws.

Our correspondent recalls that Yasin and his executive members paid a courtesy visit on Gov. Babatunde Fashola, in his office on Monday, August 3.

“We have been sensitising and advising them to comply as the law is the law of the land and it has positive impact on us, “ Yasin said.

The NURTW Chairman, Lagos State branch, Mr Tajudeen Agbede, complemented Yasin’s statement, saying that NURTW members were already complying.

“Any member that failed to comply is on his own because the law had come to stay; we need to regulate our operations to stay out of trouble, “ Agbede said.

Mr Tijani Perkis, Chairman, Motorcycle Operators Association of Lagos State (MOALS), said that the union had embarked on public enlightenment of its members and passengers.

Perkis urged the public to assist his members, popularly called Okada riders, to achive total compliance by exposing any rider who might want to disobey the law.

He said that passengers must always request for standard safety crash helmets, adding, “do not allow any rider to ply the bridge while carrying you, as well as not allowing them to ride against traffic.

“We did not take the government to court, we thank them for not banning Okada in Lagos as some other states have done.

“We promise to comply, while we plead for more time to get our members acquainted with the law,“ Perkis said.