With a commitment to mitigate the growing dangers of lawlessness, illegalities and security threat now bedeviling dispatch bike and logistics operators in Benin City and environs, an adhoc committee comprising Edo State Traffic Control and Management Agency (EDSTMA) staff and representatives of the Edo Bike Delivery and Logistics Association have commenced work on strategies to clamp down on and flush out illegal dispatch bike riders and logistics operators in Edo State.

This was as a result of the courtesy visit made by the leadership of the association to the Managing Director of EDSTMA, Mr. Dennis Oloriegbe, in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

Speaking on the purpose for their visit, the President of the association, Mr. Wellington Iyayi Ebisimeye, said they were at EDSTMA to “solicit your help to eliminate our current challenges in logistic business,” especially the security threat due to illegal Delivery Companies and dispatch riders in Edo State, which he said was negatively affecting their business as delivery bike riders and business owners.

Wellington listed some of the challenges to include unauthorized delivery companies operating without government licenses; movement of illicit substances and unlawful weapons in the guise of dispatch delivery and logistics; smoking and drinking while driving; violation of traffic rules and regulations; riding at odd hours; over-speeding; unlawful harassment; multiple taxation, amongst others.

Responding, EDSTMA’s MD, Mr. Dennis Oloriegbe, said the agency has noticed with dismay the growing influx of all kinds of motorcycles into Benin City, all in the name of dispatch and logistic services, pointing out that a new danger looms with this unchecked proliferation of dispatch bike riders cum logistics operators, adding that EDSTMA would assist the association by embarking on phase two of regulation of dispatch bike riders in Edo State in order to clamp down on illegal logistics bike riders.

The EDSTMA Managing Director advised that having a clear and updated database of all members of the association and ensuring proper training for all dispatch bike riders and logistics business owners should be made compulsory by the association for anyone wishing to come into the business, so as to mitigate the growing dangers of lawlessness, illegalities and security threat now bedeviling dispatch bike and logistics operators in Edo State.

The visiting executives of the Edo Bike Delivery and Logistics Association thanked EDSTMA for agreeing to collaborate with their association to carry out massive publicity and sensitization of the publics, trainings and enforcement of the regulation of logistics bikes in Edo State.

Photo Caption: L-R: EDSTMA Head of Operations, Officer Osagie Emokpae (2nd left); President of Edo Bike Delivery and Logistics Association, Mr. Wellington Iyayi Ebisimeye; EDSTMA MD/CEO, Mr. Dennis Ade Oloriegbe; EDSTMA Legal Adviser, Kenneth B. Ugiagbe, Esq.; EDSTMA Media Officer, Mr. Francis Odupute, with other officers and members of the Association during the meeting.