Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Osun State House of Assembly has passed a landmark bill that could fundamentally alter the violent and chaotic landscape of the state’s motor parks, following a spate of deadly clashes over control of garages that have left residents and transport operators living in fear.
The Osun State Integrated Transport, Traffic and Park Management Bill, 2026, was passed into law on Tuesday, September 23, 2026, during plenary after its successful third reading. The bill, sponsored by the Chairman of the House Committee on Works and Transport, Abiola Waheed, establishes a comprehensive legal framework for the regulation, registration, and digital administration of commercial transportation, traffic, motor parks, terminals, garages, and loading points across the state.
The legislation comes at a critical moment. Motor parks in Osun State have become notorious flashpoints for political violence and extortion. In August 2026, two people were killed at the Naira and Kobo area of Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area, when suspected political thugs attempted to take over the park. During that incident, a group of about 30 armed hoodlums attacked police officers responding to a distress call and snatched an AK-47 rifle from one of them. The stolen rifle was used to shoot three policemen and two passers-by, resulting in the deaths of the two civilians. The police later arrested four suspects in connection with the attack.
That was not an isolated incident. In September 2026, Olalekan Oyeyemi, an Accord Party chieftain popularly known as Emir Ajagungbade, was shot dead at Mayfair motor park in Ile-Ife in a killing linked to the control of the park. The incident prompted Governor Ademola Adeleke to order the immediate vacation of motor parks by rival groups and to ban the National Union of Road Transport Workers from operating in the state. The violence had become so persistent that it threatened to destabilise the state’s transport sector and undermine public confidence in the government’s ability to maintain law and order.
The new law seeks to address these challenges head-on. A major feature of the bill is the introduction of a digitalised ticketing system designed to eliminate the practice of multiple ticketing, which has long been a source of frustration for transport operators and a conduit for revenue leakages. Under the new system, revenue collection will be streamlined and made more transparent, with the state government able to track collections in real time. The bill also contains provisions aimed at addressing thuggery, violence, extortion, and other unlawful activities associated with the operations of motor parks and garages.
The Speaker of the House, Adewale Egbedun, described the passage as a significant step towards strengthening the transport sector and promoting orderly and efficient management of motor parks. He said the legislation would provide a clearer regulatory framework for the management of motor parks, while promoting a more organised relationship among transport operators, passengers, and relevant government agencies. “With all these submissions, a series of benefits will be derived from the passage of the bill,” Egbedun said. He added that both residents and motorists stood to benefit from the legislation, stressing that other issues arising from its implementation would be handled administratively.
The bill’s passage follows extensive deliberation by lawmakers at the Committee of the Whole. The report of the House Committee on Works and Transport was presented and adopted following a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Babajide Kofoworola Adewumi, and seconded by Sikiru Bajepade. The Majority Leader subsequently moved the motion for the third reading and passage of the bill, which was seconded by Taofiq Olayiwola. The motion was considered and adopted, leading to the passage of the legislation.
The new law also places significant emphasis on security and accountability in the management of motor parks. Lawmakers argued during the debate that a regulated park management structure would help protect lives and property by addressing disorder and violent disputes associated with the control of motor parks. The bill also seeks to strengthen the protection of passengers and other users of motor parks, promote sanity and accountability within the transport sector, and enhance the state’s internally generated revenue through a coordinated and transparent park management system.
The passage of the bill has been welcomed by stakeholders who have long called for reforms in the transport sector. The chaos in motor parks has not only resulted in loss of lives but has also created an environment where extortion and multiple taxation thrive. Transport operators have complained about the burden of paying multiple levies to different groups, while passengers have endured arbitrary fare increases and unsafe conditions. The new law is expected to address these issues by creating a single, transparent system for revenue collection and park management.
However, the success of the new law will depend on its implementation. The digital ticketing system will require investment in technology and training for park officials. The enforcement of the provisions against thuggery and violence will require the cooperation of law enforcement agencies and the political will to confront powerful interests that have benefited from the old, chaotic system. The government will also need to engage with transport unions and other stakeholders to ensure that the transition to the new system is smooth and that the concerns of operators are addressed.
The clean copy of the bill will now be forwarded to Governor Ademola Adeleke for his assent, in accordance with the constitutional procedure for the enactment of legislation. Once signed into law, the Osun State Integrated Transport, Traffic and Park Management Bill, 2026, will mark a new chapter in the state’s efforts to bring order, safety, and accountability to a sector that has for too long been defined by violence and impunity. For the people of Osun State, the hope is that this legislation will finally bring an end to the deadly park wars and create a transport system that serves the interests of all—operators, passengers, and the government alike.
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