Following an increase in reported crimes involving commercial motorcyclists in Oyo State, the state government has announced plans to clamp down on any rider not wearing the approved QR code jacket while operating in the area.
The Chairman of the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA), Adekoya Adesagba, made this known in a statement issued on Saturday in Ibadan. He noted that residents should only use the services of motorcycle riders wearing the official jackets with QR codes, which help in tracking and identifying registered operators.
The unique jackets are part of a safety measure to separate law-abiding operators from impostors who pose as riders to commit crimes. Adesagba said that the rising cases of theft and attempted kidnapping have raised concerns over the presence of unregistered and unidentified Okada riders across the state.
He gave examples of recent incidents that led to the renewed enforcement. According to him, a trader at Bodija Market had her money taken at gunpoint by two men on an unregistered motorcycle.
In another case, a fake rider reportedly robbed a passenger around the Challenge area. He also shared that a kidnapping was recently prevented after community members reported the movement of riders not wearing the approved jackets in the UI-Agbowo area.
He said, “A kidnapping attempt was foiled after locals reported suspicious riders without QR jackets on the UI-Agbowo Axis.”
Adesagba added that these jackets allow real-time identity checks, help prevent criminal activities, and give passengers more confidence in their safety. The jackets also help in emergencies by making it easier to trace a rider if needed.
“Daily raids and impoundment of non-compliant motorcycles. Fines and possible prosecution for violators,” he noted, warning that the government will not tolerate any rider operating without meeting the set standards.
According to him, the directive has full backing from the Governor’s Office and the Senior Special Assistant on ICT & E-Governance, Adebayo Akande. He said OYRTMA has been directed to carry out regular enforcement and continue public awareness efforts to boost compliance.
The policy was first introduced in November 2023 and includes the registration of all Okada and tricycle operators under the State Residents’ Registration Scheme. Though the government provided the jackets free of charge at the beginning, many riders still operate without them, a situation that has been linked to the rise in Okada-related crimes.
