Oyo Govt To Enforce Policy On Commercial Motorcyclists

Following a surge in criminal activities involving unregistered motorcycle operators, the Oyo State government has reaffirmed its commitment to enforce the QR code-embedded jacket policy for commercial motorcyclists also known as Okada riders.

Chairman of the Oyo State Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA), Major Adekoya Adesagba (rtd.) who stated this yesterday in Ibadan, said the state government would intensify enforcement and public awareness campaigns to ensure compliance.

He said the directive, reinforced by the office of the governor through the senior special assistant on ICT & e-governance, Mr. Adebayo Akande, mandated OYRTMA to intensify enforcement and public awareness campaigns to ensure compliance.

The policy, introduced in November 2023, requires Okada and tricycle operators to register under the State Residents’ Registration Scheme.

Despite initial provisions of free QR code jackets, compliance had remained low, emboldening criminals and leading to increased Okada-related crimes.

He said recent incidents included an armed robbery carried out by people using an unmarked motorcycle to snatch a trader’s earnings at gunpoint in Bodija Market.

Adesagba added that a passenger was robbed by a fake Okada rider in the Challenge area, recently.

“A kidnap attempt was foiled after locals reported suspicious riders without QR code Jackets on the UI-Agbowo axis”, he added.