Ekiti State Government has directed all commercial motorcycle riders and tricycle operators in the state to register and undergo biometric data capture on or before July 18.

This was  to be part of efforts to curb criminal activities and strengthen security,

The Commissioner for Transportation, Kehinde Ajobiewe, who gave the directive during a stakeholders’ meeting in Ado-Ekiti, said the exercise was in a bid “to strengthen security, enhance public safety and improve regulation of the transportation sector”.

This was contained in a statement made available by the ministry in Ado Ekiti on Friday.

Ajobiewe stated, “The biometric registration of all commercial motorcycle riders and tricycle operators will begin on July 6. Operators who failed to register and obtain the required permits by July 18 will face sanctions in line with the state’s transportation regulations.”

He urged leaders of motorcycle and tricycle unions to mobilise their members to participate fully in the exercise before the deadline.

The commissioner said, “The Ministry of Transportation will ensure that every operator is properly screened and issued a valid riding permit upon completion of the registration process.

“The exercise is aimed at creating a comprehensive database of operators, facilitating proper identification and curbing criminal activities associated with unregistered transport operators.

“The registration will be conducted at all offices of the Ekiti State Board of Internal Revenue across the 16 local government areas of the state.”

Ajobiewe said the initiative would also provide the government with reliable data for transportation planning, improve service delivery and address challenges facing the commercial transport sector.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Governor Biodun Oyebanji administration to “strengthening security, promoting an orderly transport system and improving the welfare of transport operators in the state.”

Stakeholders at the meeting included the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr Bayo Abulola; representatives of the commissioner of Police and Federal Road Safety Corps Sector Commander; the Chairman of the Okada Riders Association, Mr Kunle Asaolu; and the Chairman, Tricycle Operators Association, Mr Akinola Talabi, among others.

Commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators play a major role in public transportation across Ekiti State.

However, concerns over the use of unregistered operators by criminal elements have prompted the government to introduce biometric registration as part of wider security measures aimed at improving public safety and ensuring proper regulation of the transport sector.