The Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria has begun a six-month restructuring of its Lagos operations aimed at ending factional disputes among operators and bringing competing groups under a single leadership ahead of an election.

As part of the move, the association’s national leadership, on Monday, appointed Abdul-Azeez Abiola as caretaker chairman of its Lagos chapter with a mandate to reorganise the association while existing state, zonal and branch executives retain their positions.

The TOAN’s national leadership said the move aims to reduce the number of groups operating in the sector and establish a unified structure.

Announcing the appointment at the Lagos State secretariat of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, the TOAN National President, Augustine Agbo-Akpe, urged members to cooperate with Abiola and avoid actions that could disrupt activities at motor parks.

Akpe said the caretaker arrangement was not intended to displace existing officials but to stabilise the association and prepare it for an election that would produce substantive leadership.

“I am here to let the whole world know and hear from the horse’s mouth. Whatever you heard from the state chairman is true. You don’t have to fear losing your job,” he said.

He added, “This is not a sellout. We want to reduce the number of associations. We trusted somebody to be the leader until we organise an election.”

The intervention comes as the tricycle sector seeks to operate under a more coordinated structure following differences between TOAN and the rival TOOAN.

Accepting the appointment, Abiola said his immediate responsibility was to restore stability and reorganise the association ahead of the election, rather than remove existing officials.

“My duty is to reorganise and not to dismiss. Don’t fight with anybody. Don’t cause chaos or mayhem in the parks. If there is any issue, come to me. My door is open,” he said.

Abiola urged operators to put the collective interest of the association above personal interests, saying the caretaker leadership would work towards creating a stable structure for the sector.

“The union does not belong to me. It is our collective property. We are here to serve, and we will surely leave the stage one day,” he said.