By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
Commercial tricycle and motorcycle riders in Ibadan, Oyo State, have pleaded with the state government for more time, as it intensifies the enforcement of QR code-enabled jackets in the state.
Some of them who spoke to Impact Nigeria Newspaper noted that in the last two weeks, personnel of the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Agency (OYRTMA) have come hard on motorists who have not procured the jackets.
They stated that the OYRTMA personnel mandate Okada and Keke riders who have not registered or gotten the ‘bar code jackets’ to do so on the spot in addition to paying a fine.
“They have been disturbing us to buy it. But some of us are trying to get the money to buy the jacket.’
“We are using this opportunity to tell the government of Oyo State to give us a little time so that we can get the jacket,” said Lanre (not real name), a tricyclist.
On the amount charged for the purchase of the jacket, the motorists said it costs between N5,000 and N10,200.
Lanre added: “In the first place, you have to get your particulars valid. If your particulars are not valid, you have to go to the licence office or VIO to renew your papers. After that, you take the papers to the OYRTMA office and pay N5,000 to get the jacket. The amount was N5,000 except they have increased it.
“I don’t know when we have to get it, but the PMS (Park Management System) task force has been going around catching people. They will fine the people, then you do the registration.”
A motorcyclist, who spoke to Impact Nigeria Newspaper on the condition of anonymity, said he didn’t pay any money to get registered and was given a registration slip. He, however, stated that his friend was charged N7,000 when he went to get registered.
The motorcyclist called on the government to expedite action between when motorists register for the jacket and when they collect it.
“I registered about three weeks ago and was given a slip. They said they will call me so I can come and collect the jacket, but they haven’t called me. I will go and check to see if it is ready. They should make the process faster,” the motorcyclist said.
They concurred that the jacket is needed to curb crime and serve as a means of identifying genuine motorists in the state.
Lanre said: “The jacket is very good so that they can recognise you as a Keke rider or Okada rider. I think it will stop kidnapping. The jacket is very good; we like it. But we want more time so that the jacket will be spread everywhere throughout Oyo State.
“We are using this opportunity to plead with the Oyo State government, they should give us a little more time so that we can get the jacket.”
Recall that on June 28, 2025, the Oyo State government announced the immediate commencement of enforcement of the jacket for tricyclists and motorcyclists in the state.
OYRTMA chairman, Adesagba Adekoya, said the state would bar all commercial motorcycle (okada) and tricycle (Keke Maruwa) operators without the jacket from operating across the state.
Adekoya said the QR-coded jacket contains security features, including a unique bar code for identification and tracking purposes.
“It is mandatory for all commercial riders to wear it while operating on public roads.
“All Okada and Marwa operators without a barcode jacket are directed to immediately proceed to the Oyo State Secretariat to register their vehicles and collect their jackets,” he said.
Adekoya noted that the registration has been ongoing for the past three years, but that many riders have failed to comply.
