Commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as Okada riders, on Wednesday protested against alleged multiple ticket and levy collections in Akure, Ondo State, resulting in a clash between the riders and some ticket collectors.
The confrontation reportedly disrupted commercial activities in parts of the state capital, with several people said to have sustained injuries during the altercation.
The riders alleged that they were being subjected to repeated payments despite having obtained tickets and stickers for similar purposes. They described the practice as unfair and an attempt to impose multiple charges on operators.
One of the protesters, Jimoh Akindele, alleged that riders were being asked to pay as much as N7,000 under different charges, including a daily levy reportedly presented as an “emblem.”
Akindele further alleged that the collections were being carried out in the name of the Akure South Local Government Area, claiming that officials or agents were moving around different locations to collect money from riders.
Another rider, who identified himself as Adekunle, said the repeated demands had become a financial burden on operators. He called for greater transparency, saying riders should not be made to pay multiple times for what appeared to be the same obligation.
Adekunle also alleged that a local security outfit known as Tiger Base was being used to intimidate riders during the collection of the levies. He appealed to the state government to intervene before the disagreement escalated further.
However, the Chairman of Akure South Local Government Area, Gbenga Fasua, denied authorising the controversial levy or emblem. He said the council had neither approved the collection nor received any money from it.
Fasua said he became aware of the issue after meeting some protesting riders, who complained that they were being asked to obtain another sticker despite having already paid for similar stickers earlier in the year.
He said he subsequently directed those involved in the collection to suspend the exercise pending clarification from the state government. Fasua added that the use of the local government’s name on the disputed emblem did not mean the council had authorised its production or sale.
The council chairman appealed to the riders and other parties involved to avoid actions capable of disrupting peace in Akure, insisting that the local government was not responsible for the disputed collections.
