..to register riders on enforcement of night ban

As part of intensified efforts to tackle insecurity, the Ondo State Government has convened a meeting with leaders of commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as Okada riders, to discuss strategies for enforcing the ban on night-time operations and the prohibition of face coverings while riding.

The meeting brought together heads of various Okada riders’ associations across the state to deliberate on measures that would ensure compliance with the government’s directives aimed at strengthening security as it shows as a moral booster of hard works of men of the Ondo state security network agency codenamed Amotekun in recording huge success from the 18 local government area of Ondo state

Government officials emphasized that the restrictions are part of broader efforts to curb criminal activities often carried out under the cover of night and by individuals concealing their identities while operating motorcycles.

The authorities also urged the leaders of the motorcycle unions to cooperate with security agencies in ensuring that their members comply with the new regulations in the interest of public safety.

Speaking after the Okada rider’s stakeholders’ meeting the Commander of Amotekun, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, explained the reasons behind the state government’s ban on night-time Okada operations.

He said intelligence reports revealed that several criminal activities were being carried out at night using motorcycles, making it difficult for security operatives to distinguish between genuine riders and criminal elements.

“We observed that a lot of nefarious activities are carried out at night with the use of Okada, and it makes it difficult for us to identify genuine riders.

“It is against this background that the government decided to ban the operation of Okada from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., except for those on essential duties.”he said.

The commander noted that the cooperation of motorcycle unions and their leaders is crucial to the success of the initiative.

He added that the meeting involved key stakeholders, including the Commercial Motorcycle Riders’ Association, the Ondo State Internal Revenue Service through the SITA platform, and the Special Duties Department in the Governor’s Office.

According to him, the leadership of the Okada unions pledged their full support for the policy and also promised to assist in ensuring compliance among their members.

Adeleye further disclosed that beginning from next Monday, Amotekun would commence a fresh registration exercise for all genuine Okada riders in the state, starting from 7:00 p.m., in addition to the earlier registration conducted by the state government.

He warned that after a two-week grace period, any rider found operating without the necessary registration documents would face sanctions.

The commander also announced a ban on riders covering their faces with hoods while operating motorcycles, stressing that anyone found doing so would be treated as a suspected criminal.
“Anybody found riding Okada with a hood covering the face will be assumed to be a criminal and will be arrested,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties and Strategies, Hon. Gani Mohammed, said the government is determined to eliminate criminal activities in the state and called on residents and stakeholders to support the initiative.

He said the transport sector had been exploited by criminal elements to perpetrate crimes, adding that the state government would continue to deploy strategies aimed at curbing such activities.

Mohammed also revealed that the registration of Okada riders for the security exercise would begin daily at 10:00 a.m., a period considered less busy for operators.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Ondo State Internal Revenue Service and State Information Technology Agency, Hon. Tomide Akinribido, urged riders to comply with the registration process, warning that unregistered operators would lose the privilege to operate in the state.

“If you are not registered and captured in the Amotekun database, you will not be allowed to operate as an Okada rider in Ondo State,” he said.

He added that the exercise is not aimed at extorting money from riders but at separating genuine operators from criminal elements infiltrating the transport sector.

Those riders present were leaders of Okada riders’ unions and from Akure North and Akure South local government areas also pledged their support for the security initiative, assuring the government that their members would comply with the new directives.