A confrontation between commercial motorcycle operators, known as Okada riders, and ticket sellers in Akure, the Ondo State capital, resulted in several injuries on Wednesday. The clash occurred at various locations across the metropolis after some Okada operators resisted attempts by revenue collectors to enforce payment of a fresh levy. The riders claimed they had already paid similar charges earlier in the year.
According to the Okada riders, they are being compelled to pay N7,000 for an emblem introduced by the Akure South Local Government Area. They accused the council chairman, Hon. Gbenga Fasua, of authorizing the collection, which he denied. The riders alleged that enforcement agents were stationed at strategic locations to compel them to make the payment, describing it as double taxation.
Okada rider Jimoh Akindele stated that the riders were not opposed to paying legitimate government revenue but were concerned about the lack of transparency and repeated demands for similar payments. Akindele claimed that riders were made to pay in the morning, only for another set of collectors to demand additional tickets later in the day. The riders appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to intervene and prevent the situation from escalating.
Adekunle, another Okada operator, alleged that the chairman was using the local security outfit, Tiger Base, to harass Okada riders in the city. He expressed concern over the lack of transparency in the collection of levies and the repeated demands for payments. The riders' protest disrupted commercial motorcycle operations in parts of the city, with many riders abandoning their routes to join the protest.
However, Fasua denied authorizing the sale of the emblem, stating that neither he nor the Akure South Local Government had approved the collection. He claimed that no money from the alleged levy had been remitted to the council. Fasua said he became aware of the issue after encountering a group of protesting Okada riders in front of the Government Office.
Fasua said the riders told him they had already obtained stickers earlier in the year, including one issued during the Ogun Festival, and were being asked to purchase another, which would be the third within the year. He urged the Okada operators and other parties involved to remain calm and avoid actions capable of disrupting the peace in Akure.
The chairman questioned why funds collected through the emblem were not being remitted to the local government if the council's name was being used. He urged the parties to await clarity from Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on the matter. The situation remains tense, with the riders and ticket sellers awaiting a resolution to the issue.
Key points
- Okada riders in Akure are being compelled to pay N7,000 for an emblem introduced by the Akure South Local Government Area.
- The riders allege that they are being subjected to double taxation, with repeated demands for similar payments.
- The council chairman, Hon. Gbenga Fasua, has denied authorizing the sale of the emblem, stating that neither he nor the Akure South Local Government had approved the collection.
