Kwara Tightens Security Watch as Government Raises Alarm Over Unidentified Commercial Motorcycle Riders

The Kwara State Government has expressed growing concern over the increasing influx of unidentified commercial motorcycle operators into the state, warning that the development could heighten security risks if left unchecked.

The concern was raised by the Commissioner for Transportation, Aliyu Korasabi, during an emergency security stakeholders’ meeting in Ilorin, where transport union leaders were urged to ensure that their members fully participate in the ongoing Kwara State Residents Registration exercise.

According to the commissioner, the registration programme, coordinated by the Kwara State Residents Registration Agency (KWASRRA), is a critical part of the government’s broader strategy to strengthen security and improve the ability of law enforcement agencies to identify legitimate residents and transport operators.

Korasabi noted that the arrival of unknown commercial motorcycle riders comes at a time when some communities in the state are already grappling with security challenges, making it imperative for authorities and transport unions to work together.

He explained that capturing the biometric and personal data of commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators would enable security agencies to distinguish genuine transport workers from criminal elements who may disguise themselves as riders to perpetrate crimes.

The commissioner stressed that protecting lives and property should not be left to security agencies alone, describing security as a collective responsibility that requires active cooperation from residents, transport unions and community stakeholders.

He also commended transport unions for maintaining a cordial relationship with the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and urged them to sustain their support for government initiatives aimed at improving public safety.

Also speaking, the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Aliyu Muyideen, said the state government has continued to invest in measures designed to tackle emerging security threats.

He noted that commercial motorcycle operations remain permissible in Kwara because of the government’s recognition of their economic importance to many households, but insisted that operators must comply with security directives, including the residents’ registration exercise.

The Special Assistant to the Governor on Transportation, Ibrahim Orire, called for stricter enforcement of the existing restriction on commercial motorcycle operations after 9:00 p.m., arguing that effective implementation would help curb criminal activities.

Representatives of the Vehicle Inspection Unit and the Kwara Road Traffic Management Authority (KWARTMA) also proposed additional security measures, including improved route identification systems for transport operators to strengthen monitoring across the state.

Responding on behalf of transport unions, Motorcycle Operators Union of Nigeria Chairman, Azeez Arisekola, welcomed the registration initiative, saying it would help identify genuine operators while protecting them from unnecessary suspicion.

Leaders of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) equally pledged to mobilise their members for full participation in the exercise, reaffirming their commitment to collaborating with government in efforts to enhance security across Kwara State.