RTEAN South-West, Others Reject National President’s Representation, Raises Questions over N1bn Interventions

The South-West leadership of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has publicly distanced itself from the recent visit of the association’s National President, Alhaji Musa Muhammed, to Vice President Kashim Shettima, declaring that he did not represent the collective position of the union.

The development follows a meeting of RTEAN leaders from the South-West and other parts of the country, where a communiqué expressing loss of confidence in the association’s national leadership was reportedly adopted and signed.

Addressing journalists in Lagos on Wednesday, South-West Zonal Chairman of RTEAN, Barrister Samuel Agbede, said the association was compelled to clarify its position following Muhammed’s participation in a courtesy visit to the Vice President under the platform of Transporters for Tinubu/Shettima 2027.

While reaffirming support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, Agbede insisted that Muhammed’s actions should not be interpreted as representing the position of RTEAN nationwide.

“Our concern is simply that no individual should appropriate the collective mandate of the Association or present personal actions as the position of RTEAN without due consultation and approval,” he said.

Questions over CNG buses and transport palliatives

The South-West leadership also raised concerns over the management of government interventions allegedly received on behalf of transport operators across the country.

According to Agbede, several zones of the association have expressed concerns regarding accountability, transparency and the management of assets and intervention programmes linked to the national leadership.

South-West Zonal Chairman of RTEAN, Barrister Samuel Agbede addressing journalists in Lagos on Wednesday

Among the issues highlighted were allegations surrounding the handling of Compressed Natural Gas buses allocated for transport operators and questions over the distribution of Federal Government transport palliatives reportedly worth close to N1 billion.

“Alhaji Musa Muhammed is currently the subject of concerns and disputes raised by several zones of the Association regarding matters of accountability, transparency, and the management of assets and interventions received in the name of RTEAN,” Agbede stated.

He said the concerns remain unresolved despite the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and continue to be discussed across various organs of the association.

The transport union leader also called for greater transparency in future government empowerment initiatives targeted at transport operators, including the planned distribution of 10,000 electric tricycles.

According to him, such programmes should be implemented through transparent and verifiable processes to ensure that genuine beneficiaries across the country have equitable access.

South-West backs Tinubu, rejects unilateral decisions

Despite its reservations about the national leadership, the South-West chapter reaffirmed its support for President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima ahead of the 2027 general election.

Agbede said the zone had already endorsed the re-election bid of the President and Vice President and had commenced mobilisation efforts across its structures.

He, however, maintained that RTEAN is a national organisation whose decisions must emerge through consultation and established leadership structures.

“The Southwest Zone and other concerned stakeholders within RTEAN wish to reiterate that no individual, regardless of position, can unilaterally speak for the entire Association without consultation with its recognised structures and leadership organs,” he said.

The South-West leadership subsequently urged government institutions to engage recognised structures of transport associations, while calling on stakeholders to uphold the principles of accountability, consultation and responsible leadership in the transport sector.