Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has ordered the immediate suspension of all activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in motor parks across the state, directing security agencies to enforce the order and arrest anyone found operating on behalf of the union.
The directive was issued after a meeting of the Osun State Security Council held on Thursday and chaired by the governor.
The move, according to the state government, is aimed at restoring order in motor parks and strengthening security across Osun.
A statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said the decision followed extensive discussions on security concerns and reports relating to activities within motor parks in different parts of the state.
Governor Adeleke instructed the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to immediately halt all NURTW operations in motor parks.
He clarified that the directive does not amount to a shutdown of motor parks but is specifically targeted at the activities of the transport union.
The governor also ordered the suspension of all forms of levy collection in the parks until further notice.
He warned that anyone who ignores the directive and continues to operate in the name of the union would face arrest and possible prosecution.
“I hereby direct the Police and other security agencies to stop all activities of the union in all our parks across the state. I am not saying you should close the parks, but you should not allow anyone to operate in the parks in the name of the union.
“Anyone found contravening this order should be arrested for possible prosecution for disturbance of public peace,” Adeleke said.
The state government said the decision was reached after security agencies reviewed developments across the state and considered measures required to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
According to the statement, security chiefs who attended the meeting pledged their support for the governor’s directive and assured the government that the order would be implemented without delay.
To strengthen enforcement and improve emergency response, Governor Adeleke approved the immediate establishment of a Rapid Response Squad made up of personnel drawn from various security agencies operating in the state.
The squad is expected to respond swiftly to security threats, monitor compliance with government directives and maintain peace in strategic locations across Osun.
The Security Council meeting brought together top officials from several security and law enforcement agencies.
Those in attendance included representatives of the Osun State Police Command and Zone 11 Headquarters, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Navy.
Other agencies represented at the meeting were the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigerian Correctional Service, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun.
Senior government officials also attended the meeting, including the Deputy Governor, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, and the Special Adviser on Security Matters.
The Osun Government added that the measure is part of efforts to preserve peace, protect residents and ensure that public spaces operate in an orderly and lawful manner.