By Oluwatobi Omotosho
The Kwara State Government has expressed concern over the growing influx of unidentified commercial motorcycle operators into the state, warning that the trend poses a security risk amid rising cases of insecurity in some communities.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Aliyu Korasabi, raised the alarm during an emergency security stakeholders’ meeting in Ilorin on Thursday, urging transport union leaders to ensure full compliance with the ongoing Kwara State Residents Registration exercise.
Korasabi said the exercise, coordinated by the Kwara State Residents Registration Agency (KWASRRA), is a key component of the government’s efforts to strengthen the state’s security architecture and improve the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies.
“We are witnessing an increasing influx of unidentified motorcycle operators into Kwara at a time when some communities are grappling with security challenges. This development requires urgent attention from all stakeholders,” he said.
The commissioner explained that registering commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators would enable security agencies to distinguish legitimate transport workers from criminal elements posing as riders.
“The residents’ registration exercise will provide credible data that will assist security agencies in identifying legitimate operators and isolating criminal elements who may be hiding under the guise of commercial transportation activities,” he added.
Korasabi stressed that while the registration exercise falls within the mandate of KWASRRA, protecting lives and property requires the collective efforts of all residents.
“As bona fide citizens of Kwara State, we must not leave issues of security solely to government security agencies. Security is a collective responsibility that must be taken seriously and addressed decisively,” he said.
He also commended transport unions for maintaining a cordial relationship with the state government under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and urged them to sustain their cooperation in ongoing security efforts.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Aliyu Muyideen, praised the government’s commitment to addressing security challenges through strategic interventions.
Muyideen said commercial motorcycle operations remain permitted in Kwara because of the governor’s consideration of prevailing economic realities and the potential social consequences of imposing a total ban.
“The Governor understands the economic importance of motorcycle transportation to many households. However, operators must reciprocate this consideration by complying fully with government directives aimed at protecting lives and property,” he said.
He urged commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators to support the state’s security measures and contribute to preserving Kwara’s reputation as the “State of Harmony.”
The Governor’s Special Assistant on Transportation, Ibrahim Orire, called for stricter enforcement of the existing restriction on motorcycle operations beyond 9 p.m.
“Effective enforcement of the 9 p.m. restriction on motorcycle operations will go a long way in reducing incidents of banditry and other criminal activities across the state,” Orire said.
He also urged transport union leaders to strengthen intelligence gathering and improve communication among their zonal leaders across the state’s 16 local government areas.
Representatives of the Vehicle Inspection Unit and the Kwara Road Traffic Management Authority highlighted security gains recorded through their operations and proposed additional measures, including route identification systems for transport operators, to enhance monitoring.
Speaking on behalf of the transport unions, Chairman of the Motorcycle Operators Union of Nigeria, Azeez Arisekola, expressed support for the residents’ registration exercise and pledged the union’s commitment to its success.
“The registration initiative is in the interest of genuine operators because it will help identify legitimate members of the profession and protect them from unnecessary suspicion,” Arisekola said.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Abdulrasaq Ariwoola, and the Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Olayinka Onikijipa, assured the government of their readiness to mobilise members to participate fully in the exercise.
The union leaders pledged continued collaboration with relevant authorities, saying improved data collection and proper identification of transport operators would strengthen ongoing efforts to enhance security across Kwara State.
