The Ondo State Government has introduced official jackets for revenue and ticket collectors serving commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as Okada riders, to curb extortion and eliminate illegal levies in the state’s public transportation sector.

The initiative, which will take effect in November, is also aimed at identifying authorised collectors, preventing revenue leakages and protecting transport operators from harassment and intimidation.

The Special Adviser to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Special Duties and Strategy, Hon. Oluwafemi Dennis Fadairo, announced the measure on Thursday during an interactive session with commercial motorcyclists in Akure, the state capital.

Fadairo said the decision followed complaints by motorcycle and tricycle operators, popularly known as Keke Maruwa riders, about alleged physical harassment and intimidation by revenue and ticket collectors.

He said the jackets would enable operators to distinguish authorised ticket collectors from individuals who illegally demand money from them.

“We have heard series of complaints from our commercial motorcyclists (Okada riders) and Keke Maruwa about this extortion, but we are introducing these official jackets to enable our riders to distinguish legitimate ticket collectors from unauthorised individuals.

“Starting from November this year, the jackets would be out for our revenue and ticket collectors. We will begin the initiative fully and it would be fully implemented. If you don’t have the jacket, you don’t have any business issuing tickets,” he maintained.

The governor’s aide warned that anyone issuing tickets without government authorisation would face legal consequences, describing the practice as extortion and theft of public revenue.

He urged commercial motorcyclists to refuse payments demanded by individuals who could not establish their authority to collect tickets.

Fadairo also condemned the collection of additional levies from operators, adding that the approved daily ticket fee of N500 was sufficient and no individual or group had the right to impose additional charges on commercial motorcyclists.

He asked the operators to report anyone demanding illegal payments, assuring them that the government would investigate such complaints and take appropriate action.

According to him, the engagement was organised to understand the challenges confronting commercial transport operators, explain government policies and promote peaceful relations between riders and ticket collectors.

Meanwhile, Fadairo also use the opportunity of the engagement to provide ‘free fuel’ to over 1,000 commercial motorcyclists as a temporary measure to ease their financial burden, describing the gesture as part of Governor Aiyedatiwa’s support for their welfare.