Commercial motorcyclists in Osun State have been notified that the State government has not relaxed the law enforcing the use of identity vests and cards.
This was made known by Bilal Adiat, the Executive Secretary, Osun State Office of Transportation while featuring on a live radio programme in Osogbo on Wednesday.
Adiat, who maintained that the State government recognized the importance of identifying every commercial motorcyclist in the State, added that it was a means of ensuring the security of both the rider and passengers.
While urging the commercial motorcyclists and their union to put an end to the false narrative, Adiat noted that with the aid of the identity vests and cards, the State government had been able to get the proper records and bio-data of every commercial motorcycle operator in Osun.
The Executive Secretary explained that the initiative had also helped security agencies, especially the police, to track criminals who are using motorcycles to perpetrate crime across the State.
In his words, “The new government has not relaxed the law asking commercial motorcycle riders in Osun State to get their identity vests and cards as being peddled around in some quarters.
“Mr Governor knows that the identity vests and cards are for the safety of both the rider and those who use motorcycles as a means of moving from point A to point B, the vests are reflective at night which also help to reduce accidents, it is a must”, he emphasized.
Earlier published in January, 2022, that a cross-section of commercial motorcyclists operating within Osogbo, had protested the non-delivery of riders’ identification jackets by the then Adegboyega Oyetola-led State government several months after they were paid for.
The protesters, while venting their anger, disclosed that each commercial motorcyclist was made to part with N2,500 for the jacket
The commercial motorcyclists also complained that instead of the State government to issue them with identification jackets, it resorted to reducing the highway fine from N5,000 to N3,400.