Osun Targets Safer Roads, Orderly Motor Parks With New Transport Law

-Sensitises Vehicle Operators, Stakeholders

-As Government explains digital vehicle identification, levy system to operators

The Osun State Government has commenced stakeholder sensitisation on a new transport management law designed to improve road safety, regulate commercial vehicle operations and bring greater order to motor parks and loading points across the state.

The Integrated Transport, Traffic and Park Management System Law, 2026, also seeks to address multiple taxation and arbitrary revenue collection through a coordinated system of vehicle registration, digital identification and payment verification.

The state Ministry of Transportation organised a sensitisation programme on Wednesday, bringing together transport union leaders, park managers, commercial vehicle operators, drivers, riders, vehicle owners and government officials.

Addressing participants, the Permanent Secretary and Accounting Officer of the ministry, Olumide Taiwo, said the programme was intended to help stakeholders understand the new law and the responsibilities it places on transport operators.

Taiwo said the legislation established a framework for registering commercial operators and vehicles, ensuring the use of approved parks and loading points, verifying roadworthiness and improving traffic management.

He explained that the framework would also rely on technology to strengthen vehicle identification and regulatory compliance, including electronic credentials, QR codes, NFC technology, digital payment records, cameras and Automatic Number Plate Recognition systems.

According to the ministry, the proposed measures are expected to improve the monitoring of commercial transport activities while making enforcement more transparent and traceable.

The government also said the Daily Operation Levy would be linked to verified commercial operations to distinguish between vehicles actively engaged in commercial services and those that are not operating on particular days.

The Acting Chairman of the Osun Internal Revenue Service, Solanke Hamzat, said the reform was intended to simplify tax administration and address the problem of multiple taxation in the transport sector.

“If you look at the 2025 NTA, that’s the Nigerian Tax Act, Tax Administration, you’ll see that what we are trying to do is to bring tax to be more open, transparent, and eradicate multiple taxation. So simplicity is the key word,” he said.

Hamzat said the introduction of digital records would also help curb ticket duplication and other irregularities in revenue collection, while ensuring that payments could be verified through official receipts.

He added that the system was expected to protect operators against repeated demands for payment and reduce harassment associated with roadside revenue collection.

“Once you have paid and you have your digital receipt, nobody can come and harass you again and say, ‘Bring money,’ and all these touts that harass people on the road will now be eradicated,” he said.

On compliance, Hamzat disclosed that the law had taken effect and required commercial vehicle operators to register within 60 days of the governor’s assent.

He urged transport stakeholders to familiarise themselves with the provisions and comply with the registration requirements as the state moves to implement the new transport management framework.