Ogun Cracks Down on Rogue Transport Unions

​ABEOKUTA — The Ogun State Government has initiated a sweeping statewide crackdown on unauthorized transport unions and illegal levy collectors operating within the commercial motorcycle sector, drawing a firm line against what it terms a threat to public order and state revenue frameworks.

​Under the new directive, security and enforcement agencies have been instructed to clamp down on unapproved bodies, with explicit orders to arrest violators and impound properties linked to unauthorized toll collection.

​State authorities reiterated that only three transport organizations—the Road Transport Motorcycle Operators (ROMO), the Articulated Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (AMORAN), and the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN)—possess official legal recognition to operate across public roads and motor parks.

​Conversely, the government explicitly designated groups such as the Amalgamated National Congress of Associations (ANACOWA), AKMODE Transport Limited, and other parallel factions as unapproved entities. Officials emphasized that these bodies lack any licensing from the Ministry of Transportation or the Ogun State Internal Revenue Service (OGIRS) to conduct commercial operations or collect public levies.

​Addressing a frequent point of contention, the state cleared the air regarding the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration status flaunted by some fringe groups. According to the administration, CAC registration merely confers corporate legal personality and does not substitute for an operational license or substitute state regulatory approvals.

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​The government also directly countered arguments anchored on a March 2023 court judgment frequently cited by AKMODE Transport Limited. While acknowledging that the ruling delivered by Justice Akinyemi upheld the constitutional right to freedom of association, the state maintained that the verdict granted no operational mandate for public transport activities, nor did it invalidate established state licensing policies.

​Commercial motorcycle operators and local residents have been heavily cautioned against yielding to financial extortions from unauthorized actors. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information has rolled out public awareness campaigns to complement the ongoing enforcement operations.