Insecurity: Governor Makinde Declares Nighttime Ban on Okada Riders

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has declared a statewide ban on commercial motorcycle (Okada) operations during the late-night and early-morning hours in a strong effort to address growing insecurity.

The new regulation was announced via a video statement shared on the social media platform X.

“The operations of commercial motorcycle operators (okada riders) will now be restricted between the hours of 10:30pm and 5:30am throughout Oyo State,” Makinde said.

This security measure comes after an increase in tensions due to several coordinated attacks and the high-profile kidnapping of teachers and students in the Oriire Local Government Area. Although this administration has typically avoided outright bans on commercial motorcycles, often focusing on protecting the livelihoods of everyday people, this nighttime restriction shows a significant shift toward more active regulation.

Governor Makinde has encouraged the public to follow this directive and report any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities.