History of NURTW Zone B (Lagos)

Date of Report: December 29, 2025 Prepared by: CivicWire.ng Investigative Desk Overview: Zone B of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos State covers key areas like Isolo, Ejigbo, and parts of Oshodi-Isolo, managing motor parks, garages, and transport workers in this bustling suburban zone. NURTW Lagos operates through zonal structures for efficient administration, with Zone B often at the center of internal power struggles, leadership transitions, and allegations of mismanagement. Recent events, including a scathing public statement from Zone B Excos announcing the “downfall” of their former Zonal Chairman (“Alagba”), have thrust the zone into the spotlight, highlighting deep-seated grievances over exploitation and fund misappropriation. This report traces Zone B’s history, drawing from union records, media reports, and recent developments.

Background on NURTW Lagos Zonal Structure

The NURTW in Lagos State divides into several zones for operational efficiency, with each zone overseeing branches in specific areas. Zones like Zone B handle daily collections, member welfare, and dispute resolution in motor parks. Lagos NURTW is one of the union’s most powerful and revenue-generating branches, reportedly worth billions annually due to park levies.

Zone B, encompassing Isolo and Ejigbo, has been a hotspot for internal politics, often reflecting broader NURTW crises in the Southwest.

Key Historical Events in Zone B

• Formation and Early Years: Zone B emerged as part of NURTW Lagos’ zonal restructuring to manage growing transport workers in suburban areas. Like other zones, it focused on worker rights, levies, and park control.
• Leadership Transitions and Crises: The zone has seen multiple chairmen, with tenures marked by allegations of high-handedness and fund mismanagement. Recent history ties into Lagos NURTW’s turbulent period, including the 2022 suspension of MC Oluomo and state government interventions creating park management committees.
• Recent Leadership Change (2025): The current chairman is Alhaji Adekunle Adio Olanrewaji (Sego), who took over amid promises of reform and prosperity for Isolo/Zone B areas. His leadership followed a controversial period under the previous chairman, referred to as “Alagba.”

The Recent Crisis: Downfall of Former Chairman “Alagba”

In late 2025, Zone B Excos released a explosive statement declaring the end of “Alagba’s” influence after a four-year tenure plagued by accusations of slave-like treatment of staff, zero rewards for hard work, and squandering union funds on personal luxuries. The statement accused him of spreading false rumors about a reinstatement judgment and advised him to retire, warning that “Nemesis has caught up.”

This public denouncement signals a major shift, with Excos praising Sego’s administration for bringing relief and vowing that Isolo will thrive under new leadership. The identity of “Alagba” remains anonymized in the statement but is believed to refer to a former zonal head with family ties to past controversial figures (hinted at “just like his uncle”).

No official response from the former chairman has surfaced, but the statement has sparked discussions on accountability in NURTW zones.

Broader NURTW Lagos Context

Zone B’s issues mirror statewide NURTW challenges, including crises leading to proscriptions in some Southwest states and leadership battles (e.g., MC Oluomo’s rise and court cases). Lagos NURTW generates massive revenue (estimated N123bn annually in past reports), making zones like B lucrative but contentious.

Implications

The Zone B statement calls for introspection in union leadership, emphasizing worker welfare over personal gain. Under Sego, the zone eyes stability and growth.

CivicWire.ng monitors NURTW developments for transparency.