But for the prompt intervention of policemen from Adewole ‘D’ Division in Ilorin, Kwara State, a violent crisis would have engulfed the state over a disagreement between members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers and officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission in the state, over the installation of speed limiting device in commercial vehicles.
Infact, the crisis would have escalated beyond control, if the alleged plans by the NURTW members in the state to attack the FRSC officials had not been quickly foiled by the police.
The NURTW members had last Saturday mobilised their members and drivers in a large number to attack officials of the FRSC in their office along Airport Road in Ilorin, Kwara State, following the arrest of the union’s members, who defied the FRSC directive on the installation of speed limiting device in their vehicles.
According to an eye witness, some commercial drivers and motorists plying the Ilorin – Ogbomosho route got their vehicles intercepted and impounded during routine checks by some FRSC officials earlier.
The development was said to have infuriated the NURTW members, who allegedly planned to take their pound of flesh from the FRSC officials.
Angry NURTW members, armed with assorted weapons and missiles, including stones, sticks, cudgels and charms, were alleged to have stormed the office of the FRSC, along Airport Road in Ilorin last Saturday, threatening to attack the corps’ operatives.
The development caused panic amongst the people of the area. When the police got wind of the dangerous development, a team of armed operatives was quickly deployed in the area to disperse the angry NURTW members, putting paid to their planned attack on the FRSC officials.
An eye witness, who is also a transport worker, who simply identified as Ibrahim, told The Point that the NURTW members had suffered so much in the hands of the FRSC officials in the state over the issue of the speed limiting device.
Ibrahim said that the drivers and union officials had, for a long time, cried out to the appropriate authorities, to no avail, that the price of the device should be reduced or the policy be scrapped outright.
“My brother, tell me how much are we taking home as drivers and workers that we are now being asked to procure speed limiting device at all cost, without considering our financial capability?” he asked.
The state chairman of the NURTW, Alhaji Issa Ore, told The Point that a vast majority of the union members had confessed that the policy did not go down well with them because of the exorbitant price of the device.
“At a time like this, when recession is biting harder, much as we tried to impress it on them the need to procure the speed limit device for their safety, their reactions have been that the N50,000 price tag is too much and not realistic.
“See, some of them that you are seeing usually contend with poor take-home at the end of the day and even if you put some of their taxis or buses up for sale, it won’t be more than that same amount meant for the speed limit installation; so, what are we saying?” Ore said. He, however, commended the initiative, saying, “I do not think that our union has anything against the policy.”
The FRSC Sector Commandant in charge of the state, Sunday Maku, while commenting on the incident, urged members of the public to abide by laid down rules and regulations, adding, “FRSC is not an enemy to transport workers or members of the public.”
The NURTW, the FRSC and the police are, however, said to be working on ways to resolve the issue to avoid future confrontation between the union members and road safety officials.
