Commercial cyclists protest against extortion by KWARTMA in Ilorin

OPERATORS of commercial motorcycles popularly known as Okada, in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, recently staged a protest against alleged extortion by officers of Kwara State Road Transport Management Agency (KWARTMA).

The operators, in their hundreds, peacefully marched to the Government House on Ahmadu Bello Way, lamenting their inability to break even, despite the high risks of their job.

According to their spokesman, Dele Isiaka: “The reason for our protest is that KWARTMA officials are frustrating us. We are not happy riding motorcycles. It is because of the harsh economic situation.

We are just doing it to survive so that we can cater for our needs.” “We plead with the Kwara State government to please help us appeal to these KWARTMA officials. They are frequently arresting us. If they arrest one of our members, the person will pay up to N10, 000. That is too much. How much do we make in a day? We beg this government to have mercy on us.

They should scrap KWARTMA. Reacting, the Chief Executive Officer of KWARTMA, Mr. Yekeen Babatunde Bello said, “the claim by the commercial motorcyclists that our officers charge them N10,000 is a surprise to me.

Besides, it is not true that our personnel demand for N200 bribe from arrested Okada riders because anyone caught would be suspended for first time offenders and dismissal for further indulgence.”

“The penalty is there. I have told them to obey traffic rules and regulations. There are regulations here. If you assault any of the officers that arrest you, you would pay extra penalty for the assault.

The fines are clearly stated according to the law.” “Paying up to N7,000 or N8,000 is probably when you are fighting with our personnel. That means you have assaulted them and the assault carries N5, 000. But in most cases, the fines are either N2, 000 or N4, 000. There is nothing like N10, 000 or N20,000,” he declared.