Comrade Nurudeen Mudashiru Eniafe, the Zonal chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Ojo Zone 21is proving to the world that indeed, education is a life changer beyond speaking grammar and earning salary.
Eniafe, another creative, self-motivated graduate of the Lagos State University (LASU) has changed the narrative of the hitherto perennially frustrating traffic jam on the LASU-Igando axis of the Ìgandò Ìyànà Iba road ever since he took charge of the management of the RTEAN zone.
Apart from facilitating and sustaining a much sane traffic management on the said axis, the Eniafe-led current RTEAN branch has innovatively added an impressive touch of the Corporate Responsibility Service (CRS) which one would have expected only from real white collar business entities far from the like of RTEAN.
In this regard, LASU Ojo RTEAN under Nurudeen Eniafe, has changed the old narrative of exploitation to exploration and expansion, whereby petty traders beside the road around LASU gate who used to run helter skelter looking for money to tip the RTEAN or other union officials in order to start a below-the-line business are now encouraged to throw such money back into their trading capital for their business to keep growing.
Not only that, this writer did some undercover checks to find out that there is nothing like forceful consumption of goods such as energy drinks, soft drinks, groundnuts, biscuits and the like without paying the sellers. When last did anyone reading this piece wake up to the news of agbero fracas among themselves or with students on that axis? This is an impressive turnaround by all standards. Kudos to the management of RTEAN under LASU-baked Eniafe.
An exclusive chat with Nurudeen Mudashiru Eniafe reveals that this innovatively weird LASU pride is not alone in the drive for safe, secure, seamless and sane driving and commuting along the LASU-Iba-Igando road, but working not only with the solid support of other RTEAN officials and ground members, but also hand in hand with the Divisional Police Officer (DPO). This is educational application at play.
The Eniafe-piloted RTEAN is currently staging a crusade of awareness for students in particular as well as other commuters on the road to always beware the kind of Kẹkẹ Marwa ( commercial tricycle) they board on the axis.
Eniafe gave some security tips on what to look out for while making to board a Kẹkẹ, no matter how desperate the situation may seem.
One of such features to check is that an authentic and approved Kẹkẹ must have an FRSC-registered number plate, not only in the front but more importantly on the back which will facilitate a quick grab of the number just in case a situation warrants so. This is because it has been discovered of recent that some ill-intentioned Kẹkẹ Operators work hand in hand with thieves, robbers and tricksters to rob and dispossess innocent young students of their phones, money and other valuables.
According to the young game changer, the trick being used by such devilish operators is that, first, the Kẹkẹ will not have a number plate at the back; then a well-dressed ‘gentleman’ , usually in corporate suit, will sit alone on the back seat while another passenger will sit beside the Kẹkẹ operator thereby seemingly leaving space for at least two more passengers.
“This is a booby trap to bait unsuspecting passengers, especially young, fresh students on the axis into falling prey to robbery and other unimaginable evils. “Shortly after take-off, the Kẹkẹ operator will feign that the fuel has finished in Kẹkẹ tank an plead with the students to help bend or push the Kẹkẹ. The innocent commuters would oblige, most likely leaving their phones and bags on the seat of the Kẹkẹ to help push it, then suddenly, there will be fuel in the tank to make the Kẹkẹ zoom off while the apparently now stupefied passengers will watch the Kẹkẹ speeding off into oblivion.
“Sometimes, the Kẹkẹ operator may play the magnanimous by dropping some annoying cash token as makeup transport fare.
” LASU students are, therefore, advised to shun any Kẹkẹ without its valid number plate displayed at the right place on the Kẹkẹ”, Eniafe cautioned.
He also enjoined passengers on the axis to look out for the RTEAN stickers on the Kẹkẹ. This, according to him, authenticates the recognition and approval of the machine to operate on the axis.
He added that the LASU branch of RTEAN is also organising an awareness programme for drivers on the need to obey all traffic rules and signs including tutoring them on respect for pedestrians at zebra crossings and also ensuring that all drivers on the route are armed with valid driving licence.
Eniafe, the RTEAN-LASU Chairman also warns that the Association frowns at drivers’ disobedience to any of the traffic rules.
He also reiterated that time to time, RTEAN officials will always ensure that all their drivers are equipped with vehicular facilities such as C-caution, Fire Extinguishers and others.
“It is important to add that any driver whose vehicle does not fulfill all these requirements does not qualify to have our stickers which then disqualifes such a driver from plying the axis for commercial purposes”; The Chairman emphasised.
