The Oyo State Government has announced plans to intensify the enforcement of its QR code jacket policy for commercial motorcycle (Okada) riders, as part of efforts to tackle rising insecurity linked to unregistered operators.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Chairman of the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA), Major Adekoya Adesagba (rtd.), said the renewed enforcement drive follows a directive from the Office of the Governor, relayed through the Senior Special Assistant on ICT and E-Governance, Mr. Adebayo Akande.
The policy, which was introduced in November 2023, mandates all Okada and tricycle riders in the state to register under the Oyo State Residents’ Registration Scheme and wear jackets embedded with scannable QR codes for identification and tracking.
Despite initial provisions for free jackets, compliance has remained low, a situation the government says has emboldened criminal elements. “We’ve seen an increase in crimes involving unregistered motorcycles,” Adesagba said, citing a recent incident where armed robbers riding an unmarked Okada snatched a trader’s earnings at gunpoint in Bodija Market.
He also mentioned a similar robbery involving a fake Okada rider in the Challenge area, as well as a foiled kidnapping attempt in the UI–Agbowo axis, thanks to vigilant residents who noticed suspicious riders without QR jackets
The QR code system, according to officials, enables real-time rider verification, helps prevent crime, supports emergency tracking, and fosters passenger confidence.
