For the second straight day, commercial motorcyclists in Akure, the capital city of Ondo State, have staged a street-wide protest against the demand by the officials of the State Ministry of Transport for the purchase of a new number plate for their motorcycles.

The okada riders today staged a protest at the NEPA roundabout. They complained that they paid a sum of 5,000 naira to purchase the blue-coloured number plate, only for the officials to ask them to pay another 5,000 naira for the red number plate, which is meant for commercial vehicles.

Security officials comprising the Police, Army and Civil Defence were, however, on standby to ensure the protest did not get out of hand.

Some of the angry motorcyclists, who spoke to Channels Television, from which this story was sourced, said they could not afford to pay another fee for the red number plates.

They stressed that the State Government should give them the number plates without free of charge if the usage is obligatory.

•Photo shows okada riders.