The move, according to the government, follows a rise in criminal activities linked to unregistered Okada operators across the state.
By Afolabi Ayodele
The Oyo State Government has announced plans to bar and prosecute commercial motorcycle riders operating without official QR code-embedded jackets.
The move, according to the government, follows a rise in criminal activities linked to unregistered Okada operators across the state.
Chairman of the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA), Adekoya Adesagba, disclosed this in a statement issued in Ibadan on Saturday.
He urged residents to patronise only commercial motorcycle riders wearing the official jackets, which feature scannable QR codes for identity verification.
Adesagba cited recent security incidents, including the robbery of a trader at gunpoint by assailants on an unmarked motorcycle in Bodija Market and a separate attack on a passenger by a fake rider in the Challenge area.
He said, “A kidnapping attempt was foiled after locals reported suspicious riders without QR jackets on the UI-Agbowo Axis.
“OYRTMA urges residents to patronise only Okada riders with these official jackets. The benefits include real-time rider verification, crime prevention, emergency tracking, and increased passenger trust.
“Daily raids and impoundment of non-compliant motorcycles. Fines and possible prosecution for violators.
“The government assures that this policy is for the safety of all residents, and defaulters will be barred from operating on the state roads,” he stated.
Adesagba added that the state, through the Governor’s Office and the Senior Special Assistant on ICT & E-Governance, Adebayo Akande, has directed OYRTMA to step up enforcement and sensitisation.
He said the QR jacket policy, introduced in November 2023, requires all Okada and tricycle operators to register under the State Residents’ Registration Scheme.
Despite the initial distribution of free jackets, he noted that compliance has remained low, giving room for criminal elements to exploit the loophole.
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