Kwara State Government has urged transport operators, especially commercial motorcyclists and other road users, to be more safety conscious and avoid acts that can lead to road crashes.

The Special Adviser to the Kwara State Governor on Labour Matters, Mr.Bisi Fakayode, said this at a press conference on Tuesday after a meeting with the commercial motorcyclists.

He said that the state government had adopted measures to ensure sanity in the operations of the commercial motorcycles in the state.

He stated that in the past there were allegations of involvement in crimes against okada riders.

He added that the state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, had approved the conduct of summits in the 16 local government areas where government officials would meet with the okada riders and arrive at some resolutions aimed at sanitising and improving the operations.

He also cautioned the okada riders against violating the restriction on the operation from 7pm till dawn.

Fakode said the government would on December 27 inaugurate new uniform for the commercial motorcyclists in the state.

He added that the government would also on the same day issue certificates to seven registered commercial motorcycle riders associations and the central body that would be coordinating their activities.

According to him, the seven associations approved by government are Kwara State Motorcycle Express Riders Commercial Service Association; Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, okada chapel; National Union of Road Transport Workers, okada chapel; Kwara State Happiness Okada Riders Association; Kwara State Heritage Okada Riders Association; Kwara State Champion Okada Riders Association and Kwara State Awareness Okada Riders Association.

He added that Kwara State Joint Commercial Motorcycle Riders

Association would be a central body to coordinate the activities of the seven associations.

According to him, the restructuring and the new uniforms will be in operation from January 1, 2013.

Fakayode stated that the seven associations would form cooperative societies to access government’s financial assistance such as loan facilities.

He said, "After all these laudable steps must have been taken by the state government, it is imperative for members of the various associations to reciprocate by abiding strictly by all these ‘gentleman’ agreement.

"The state government wants to warn that any member of the various registered associations that takes laws into his hands by violating any of the agreements will be severely dealt with as the law enforcement agents have been briefed accordingly."

"Similarly, anyone caught operating with a motorcycle for commercial purposes and did not register with any of the registered associations would be arrested and prosecuted accordingly," Fakayode added.

President, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, okada chapel, Alhaji Abdulraheem Akanbi, also appealed to the commercial motorcycle operators to be safety conscious.

He stated that they were in agreement with the government’s directives.

He, however, appealed to the government not to enforce the regulations until January 2013 so that the okada riders and their families would happily celebrate the Christmas festivities.

He said, "We stand by the resolutions we had the government. All okada riders will comply with the government’s directive. From January 1, 2013, they can arrest any offender or defaulter."