The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) is one of Nigeria’s most powerful labor organizations, yet it is equally notorious for its violent reputation. Originally established to regulate the activities of commercial drivers and ensure order in motor parks, the union has morphed over the decades into a formidable force often associated with brutality, extortion, and political thuggery. For many Nigerians, the mention of NURTW evokes fear rather than a sense of safety or solidarity.
At the core of the NURTW’s violent image is the constant turf war among its members. Motor parks across major Nigerian cities, from Lagos to Ibadan, have become battlegrounds where rival factions engage in bloody clashes to control revenue streams. These fights often spill beyond the parks, disrupting businesses and leaving ordinary commuters trapped in chaos. The competition for dominance in such spaces has led to a culture where machetes, clubs, and even firearms are not uncommon tools of dispute resolution.
Extortion is another hallmark of the union’s notoriety. Commercial drivers routinely complain about the relentless levies imposed by NURTW operatives, who demand payment at every turn. Failure to comply often results in intimidation, beatings, or destruction of vehicles. In many cases, these collections are made violently and without transparency, feeding a cycle of resentment and fear. What should be a structured system of dues has become an instrument of oppression, further cementing the union’s violent image.
Beyond the parks, the NURTW’s influence extends into Nigeria’s volatile political landscape. Politicians frequently exploit its vast membership base as a ready-made army of enforcers during elections. The union’s history is riddled with accusations of ballot snatching, voter intimidation, and orchestrated violence on behalf of political sponsors. This unholy alliance has deepened the perception that the NURTW thrives on force and thrives best where law enforcement is weak or complicit.
The violence associated with the NURTW also exposes the failure of Nigeria’s justice and policing systems. Despite numerous reports of killings, maimings, and property destruction linked to the union, arrests are rare and prosecutions rarer still. Many Nigerians believe this culture of impunity emboldens the group, creating a cycle where violence becomes both a survival strategy and a demonstration of power.
Still, not all members of the NURTW embrace violence. Some within the organization argue that a few bad actors have tarnished the reputation of an otherwise legitimate body. They point to reforms, such as attempts by some state governments to regulate motor park revenues, as evidence of a desire to change. Yet, critics insist that as long as brute force remains the primary tool for asserting authority in the parks, the NURTW’s reputation will remain stained by violence.
Ultimately, the story of the NURTW is a tale of a union that strayed from its founding principles. Instead of ensuring the welfare of drivers and passengers, it has too often become a symbol of fear and chaos in Nigeria’s transport system. Unless decisive reforms, strict law enforcement, and political detachment are enforced, the violent reputation of the NURTW will continue to overshadow its original purpose, leaving Nigeria’s roads not just congested, but dangerous.
