The Kwara State House of Assembly has directed the state government to collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to conduct drug integrity tests for all registered commercial motorcycle (okada) and tricycle operators.

Additionally, the legislature urged the Ministry of Transportation to formalise transport unions to prevent infiltration by undesirable elements into the sector.

The resolutions followed a motion on matters of general public importance, titled 'Urgent Need to Review the Operation of Okada and Tricycle Commercial Operators in Kwara State' , tabled by Hon. Lawal Salihu, member for Ipaye/Malete/Oloru Constituency, during a plenary session.

In the House resolutions read by Speaker Engr. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, lawmakers also called on the Kwara State Residents Registration Agency (KWASRRA) to implement a mandatory registration system for commercial operators. This system would include identity verification, biometric data, and unique identification numbers to enhance accountability.

They also urged Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to direct his assistant on Drugs and Narcotic to collaborate with NDLEA to conduct drug integrity tests on all registered commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators in the state.

Earlier, while leading the debate on the motion, Hon. Salihu said some Okada and tricycle riders were being used as tools to perpetrate criminal activities, including banditry, robbery, kidnapping and drug trafficking.

He implored the state government to continue to restore peace across the state by ensuring that Okada operation is not hijacked by criminal elements.

Other lawmakers, who contributed to the debate, urged the State governor to call on the state's Commissioner of Police to ensure strict enforcement of the 9pm close of operation for Okada and tricycle operators as a way of curbing criminality.