The Ogun State Government has commenced a crackdown on unapproved motorcycle operators’ associations operating across the state.

The government warned the affected associations to immediately stop collecting revenues, levies and other government-related charges from commercial motorcycle operators.

The Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

Akinmade said only three motorcycle operators’ associations – ROMO, AMORAN and ACCOMORAN – were currently recognised and permitted to operate on public roads and parks in the state.

He said the government had identified ANACOWA, AKMODE Transport Limited and other parallel motorcycle operators’ groups as unapproved associations not authorised by the Ministry of Transportation to conduct commercial motorcycle revenue activities.

The government also clarified that the affected groups were not authorised by the Ogun State Internal Revenue Service to collect personal income tax or other government levies from their members.

It said registration of an association with the Corporate Affairs Commission only conferred legal personality on the organisation and did not constitute a licence to engage in regulated commercial motorcycle operations or collect government revenue.

The government directed ANACOWA, AKMODE Transport Limited and all other unapproved associations to immediately cease revenue collection and other unauthorised activities in public spaces across the state.

It warned that continued operations by the groups would be treated as a violation of the state’s regulatory framework.

The government said enforcement would be carried out professionally, peacefully and in accordance with the law, adding that relevant security and enforcement agencies had been directed to implement the directive.

It advised commercial motorcycle operators and members of the public not to pay taxes, levies, subscriptions or other government-related charges to associations or individuals not duly authorised by the state government.