Ondo Restricts Okada, Tricycle Operations Around Government House
The Ondo State Government has imposed fresh restrictions on the operations of commercial motorcycles and tricycles around the Government House axis in Alagbaka, Akure, as part of measures to strengthen security and improve traffic management in the state capital.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Muyiwa Ogunyemi, disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking with journalists in Akure.
Ogunyemi said commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as Okada riders, would no longer be allowed to operate freely around the Government House area, stressing that designated routes had been mapped out to regulate their movement.
He explained that Okada operators approaching the Government House axis would only be permitted to proceed towards the Police Officers’ Mess, while the route through First Bank in Alagbaka would terminate around the Teaching Service Commission area.
The government also directed commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators around the Post Office area to relocate, saying the move was aimed at decongesting major roads and restoring order to traffic flow.
Ogunyemi warned that the government would no longer tolerate the use of roads, bus stops and other public spaces for trading, workshops or other unauthorised business activities.
He stressed that government-provided bus stops must be used strictly for their intended purpose, particularly by commercial transport operators.
The transportation adviser further announced intensified enforcement of traffic regulations across Akure, warning motorists, Okada riders and tricycle operators against disobeying traffic lights.
He said offenders would be arrested and prosecuted, particularly those who move before traffic lights turn green.
Ogunyemi also cautioned motorists against blocking lanes at intersections where vehicles are allowed to make turns, saying such practices contribute to traffic congestion and unsafe road conditions.
“We have started with sensitisation and enlightenment, but we are now moving into enforcement,” he said.
According to him, the tougher measures became necessary as the state government intensifies infrastructure development across Akure, including the ongoing construction of a flyover and other road projects.
He urged residents and road users to change their attitude towards road use, noting that improved infrastructure would only deliver its intended benefits when motorists and other road users comply with traffic regulations.
Ogunyemi said the government was also planning to install zebra crossings and speed-limit signs, particularly around schools, to improve pedestrian safety and reduce road accidents.
He urged motorists to exercise greater caution around schools and other sensitive locations and to comply with speed restrictions once the signs are introduced.
On vehicle registration, the adviser said the state government was working with the Ondo State Internal Revenue Service and its consultant to ensure that vehicle owners who complete their registration receive their number plates promptly.
He warned residents against patronising unauthorised roadside producers of number plates, describing registration plates as important security identifiers.
Ogunyemi appealed to transport operators, motorists, traders and other residents to cooperate with the government, stressing that the measures were aimed at creating a more organised transport system and making Akure safer and easier to navigate.
He added that the government’s objective was to ensure that commuters could move freely to their destinations without unnecessary obstruction or harassment while encouraging all categories of road users to respect traffic rules and one another.
