BREAKING: Istijabah emerges Lagos TOAN caretaker chairman as factions end feud
Alhaji Azeez Abiola, popularly known as Istijabah, has emerged as the six-month caretaker chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN), following an agreement aimed at ending the prolonged dispute between the association and the Tricycle Operators and Owners Association of Nigeria (TOOAN).
The appointment was announced at the State Secretariat of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Abule Egba, Lagos, where union members and key stakeholders gathered to witness the new leadership arrangement.
The National Chairman of the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria, Comrade Augustine Agbo Apeh, announced the appointment in a letter read at the event. The letter was received by the Lagos State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Alhaji Mustapha Adekunle Adio, popularly known as Sego.
Istijabah is expected to serve for six months, during which he will work to restore peace, ensure the smooth running of members’ businesses and prepare the ground for a fresh election to determine the association’s substantive leadership.
The agreement comes amid lingering tensions over leadership and control within Lagos’ tricycle transport sector. Disagreements between rival interests have raised concerns about unity among members and the potential disruption of their daily business activities. The latest arrangement is expected to provide an opportunity for reconciliation and a more stable working environment.
In his acceptance speech, Istijabah thanked the stakeholders who contributed to the agreement and assured members that his administration would prioritise peace. He urged members to put their differences aside and work together to ensure the success of the caretaker administration.
He also assured members that no one’s job or position would be threatened under his leadership, seeking to ease concerns about possible victimisation and encourage cooperation among the different interests within the association.
Speaking at the event, Sego said the National Union of Road Transport Workers and the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria would operate as parallel bodies, while announcing the dissolution of TOOAN. He urged members and stakeholders to support the new caretaker chairman, stressing the importance of cooperation in maintaining peace and ensuring the free flow of business.
The event was attended by a large number of association members and major stakeholders, including members of the national council. The six-month arrangement now places the responsibility on the new caretaker leadership to build trust among members and sustain the peace needed for the association to conduct another election.
