The Ekiti State Government has directed operators of commercial motorcycles (Okada) and tricycles to wear Government-approved reflective jackets henceforth.
The jackets will be customized to bear the Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) of each rider.
The registration will be done in all the 16 Local Government Areas of the State.
The State Commissioner for Transportation, Kehinde Ajobiewe who disclosed this in Ado-Ekiti while launching of jackets, said the move was part of ongoing efforts to regulate the transport subsector and enhance security of commuters and people of the State.
He emphasized that the PIN, which will be visibly displayed on the reflective jackets of registered riders and will serve as a crucial database for the State Government.
According to him, the initiative will help to monitor and track the activities of Okada riders and Tricycle operators, thereby ensuring proper identification and reducing criminal activities associated with unregistered operators.
Ajobiewe who assured that the Government remains committed to safeguarding lives and property of the people of the State, noted that the introduction of the PIN system linked to a database containing the fingerprints and other unique biometric features of the bearer will help in identifying genuine operators while discouraging the use of motorcycles for criminal activities.
He, therefore, urged all Okada riders and Tricycle operators in the State to comply with the directive and ensure proper registration to avoid sanctions.
The Commissioner further assured that the State Ministry of Transportation will continue to work closely with security agencies to enforce compliance and maintain order within the sector.
He called on the general public to support this initiative by patronizing only registered riders and reporting any suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities.
The State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Olusola Joseph, promised to work in conjunction with the State Government in enforcing compliance with the use of the new reflective jacket.
In their separate remarks, the Chairman of the Okada Readers Association and his Tricycle Association counterpart, Kunle Asaolu and Akinola Talabi respectively, thanked the State Government for the initiative. They promised to support the Government’s policy.
