By Adeyinka Aderibigbe
President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Alhaji Ibikunle Baruwa, has warned against illegal activities of those he described as disgruntled in the union, who has formed the habit of violating the ban on interstate movement.
Baruwa, who is a member of the ‘Joint Technical Task Team’ facilitating free and unhindered movement of food, livestock and agro products across the country said, “As a law abiding union that believes in the rule of law we support every policy of government at all levels and as a member of the technical team, I issued a circular to all the state councils of the union on April 28 for full compliance of members on the need to solely use vehicles for transporting food, livestock and agro inputs across the country.
He said: “It is therefore most unfortunate and embarrassing as reports reaching me showed that some unscrupulous and greedy truck drivers have now taken advantage of the free movement to convert their trucks to passenger vehicles.
“I therefore commend the effort of eagle eyed security officials for the arrest of some of these culprits in some states, especially in the south east and Rivers State.
Baruwa appealed to the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, who has vowed to auction all vehicles caught flouting the lockdown order, to temper justice with mercy.