15 BRT drivers resign over soldiers assault

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

Lagos—A witness, at the ongoing tribunal of inquiry into the July 4th, 2014 road accident and subsequent destruction of Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, looting and rioting, has said at least 15 BRT drivers  resigned immediately after the alleged arson by the soldiers.

Some witnesses at the ongoing inquiry  had alleged that a female soldier set the first bus ablaze, an act which led to the burning of other buses at the scene of the incident.

Speaking at the public hearing in Ikeja, Mr. Olusegun Spencer, the head of project development for National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, owners of the BRT bus, said that this was the aftermath of the incident.

Spencer explained that drivers who suffered varying degree of injuries and bus ticketers, resigned over fear of subsequent attack from soldiers in the state.

His words “At least 15 drivers and some ticketers have resigned their appointment. However, those who stayed behind now work with fear of attack from the soldiers.”

Spencer lamented that before the July 4th incident, several attacks on the drivers by the army had occurred in the state since the inauguration of transport scheme in March 17th, 2008 by the state governor, Babatunde Fashola and “were swept under the carpet.”

He noted that the arson and vandalism of the buses, has affected the union’s revenue in the investment and ability to seek for finances from banks in the state.

Spencer said:  “Before now, we had several banks seeking the patronage of the union but after that ugly incident, the reverse has occurred. And I understand the plight of these financial institutions.

“For instance, each of the three burnt buses cost the union N13.5 million to procure and we are yet to recoup our investment. And we need to buy others to fill the vacuum. Aside this, some were vandalised, and will have to be repaired. These are extra expenses on the union.

“And it was due to these huge losses that we had to write the state governor, Babatunde Fashola to explain our plight to him. And in other to do justice to our allegations, set up the tribunal of inquiry on the activities that took place on Ikorodu road at palm grove bus stop.”

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15 BRT drivers resign over soldiers assault