Commercial Motorcyclists in Oyo State will soon be issued identification cards as part of the state government’s efforts to curb crimes and influx of criminal elements into the state.
The state Commissioner for Public Works and Transport, Prof. Raphael Afonja, disclosed this on Thursday in Ibadan while addressing newsmen on government’s plan to ensure smooth commercial motorcycle business in the state.
He noted that the ban on Motorcycles and Tricycles as means of commercial transportation in Lagos, had led to a large number of the displaced operators trooping into the state.
The Commissioner also announced that the state Governor, Seyi Makinde has ordered the immediate reduction of the daily levy paid by each motorcycle and tricycle operator in the state from N200 to N100.
He said the Governor took the action to reduce the suffering of the riders.
The commissioner said “In order to control crimes being associated with motorcyclists and the influx of commercial motorcyclists into Oyo State, the government will in due course, issue Riders’ card to all registered commercial motorcyclists in the state.
“This will enable the government to differentiate registered commercial motorcyclists from criminal elements, who are using motorcycles to operate.
“We have concluded that due to what happened in Lagos State, which has led to influx of okada riders moving from Lagos into Oyo State, there is a need to have okada riders’ card to identify people coming into the state.
“So, in collaboration with the revenue collector for the state and FRSC and the unions, we will start to gather information on those who are engaging in commercial or private cycling businesses in the state.
“This is possible through profiling. The security agencies are in need of these pieces of information.”
Afonja noted that the registration of motorcycle operators through the riders’ cards “will be a database for us to know who is who; who owns what; who they are, where they live and the rest.”
The Commissioner stated further: “We will also add their Bank Verification Number (BVN) to know who they really are.
“Recently, you may have heard about snatching of bikes and robberies using motorcycles. That is why we are trying to make sure that all motorcycles in the state are properly registered.
“We will ensure they do what is needful to make sure they obey the law.”
On the collection of N100 daily levy, Afonja said revenue collectors would be at every park from Friday, Feb. 21, and urged commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators to cooperate with them.
