By Wole Adedeji, Ilorin.
The Kwara State House of Assembly has requested the state government to collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to conduct a drug integrity test for all registered operators of commercial motorcycle and tricycles in the state.
The House also asked the government to direct the Ministry of Transportation to register and recognise transport unions in the State as a way of checking infiltration of undesirable elements into the sector.
This resolution of the parliament followed a motion on a matter of general public importance tagged ‘Urgent Need to Review the Operation of Okada and Tricycle Commercial Operators In Kwara State’, raised by the member representing Ipaye/Malete/Oloru Constituency, Hon. Lawal Salihu.
In the House resolutions read by the speaker, Engr. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, the legislators called on Kwara State Residents Registration Agency (KWASRRA) to implement a mandatory registration system for all commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators with clear identity verification, biometric data and unique identification numbers.
The House also urged the governor to direct his Assistant on Drugs and Narcotic to work hand-in-hand with NDLEA to conduct drug integrity tests on all registered commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators in the state.
Earlier, Hon. Salihu had told the plenary that said some commercial motorcycle and tricycle riders in the State were being used as tools to perpetrate criminal activities which include banditry, robbery, kidnapping and drug trafficking.
He implored the government to continue with its efforts to restore peace across the state by ensuring that commercial motorcyclists in particular were not hijacked by criminal elements.
Other lawmakers, who contributed to the debate, urged the Governor AbdulRazaq to call on the State Commissioner of Police to ensure strict enforcement of the 9 p.m. deadline for operators of motorcycle and tricycles as a way of curbing criminalities.