Lagos transport union resolves differences, appoints ‘Istijaba’ as interim chairman

The Tricycle Owners’ Association of Nigeria (TOAN), Lagos State chapter, has taken steps to end the divisions within the tricycle transport sector in the state with the appointment of Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Abiola, popularly known as Istijabah, as its chairman for the next six months.

The arrangement is expected to bring the tricycle operators under a more coordinated structure, minimise rivalry among associations and improve the management of their activities across Lagos.

The Lagos State chairman of the NURTW, Mustapha Adekunle Sego, announced the development, saying the existing state and zonal executives of now defunct Tricycle Owners and Operators of Nigeria (TOAN) would retain their positions during the reorganisation.

According to Sego, TOAN’s national leadership communicated Abiola’s appointment to the union in a formal letter, giving him a six-month mandate to oversee the association’s affairs.

The letter, signed by TOAN’s national president, Augustine Agbo Akpe and national secretary, Christiana Adebayo, described the appointment as an interim leadership arrangement ahead of an election.

Akpe said the decision was part of efforts to restore harmony in the sector and bring the activities of competing tricycle associations under a common structure. He urged members to cooperate with the new leadership rather than worry about losing their positions.

He explained that Abiola would lead the association temporarily while preparations for an election were made, stressing that the move was intended to promote unity and reduce the number of groups operating in the sector.

Accepting the appointment, Abiola pledged to focus on restructuring TOAN and maintaining stability among its members. He assured the existing executives that the exercise would not be used to remove them from their positions.

“My duty is to reorganise and not to dismiss. Don’t fight with anybody. Don’t cause chaos or mayhem in the parks. If there is any issue, come to me. My door is open,” he said.

Abiola called on members to support the interim leadership and refrain from actions that could cause disorder in motor parks. He added that the association belonged to its members collectively and that his role was to serve them during the reorganisation.