Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has signed the Osun State Park Management Bill into law, formally establishing a new legal framework for the management of motor parks and garages across the state.
Adeleke signed the legislation on Monday, October 5, 2026, at the Government House in Osogbo, following its passage by the Osun State House of Assembly.
The governor said implementation of the new law would commence immediately, describing it as a major step towards addressing longstanding challenges in the state’s transport park system and improving services for commuters and transport operators.
Adeleke promises immediate implementation
According to a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke said he had reviewed the bill as passed by the Assembly and was convinced that it offered a solution to persistent problems within the state’s motor park system.
“I applaud the House Speaker and members of the House for always acting in the best interest of the state,” Adeleke said.
The governor added that the new law would accommodate the interests of Osun residents and other stakeholders while promoting efficient service delivery across the state.
He assured transport operators and other stakeholders that implementation would begin without delay.
The legislation follows growing concerns over disputes surrounding the control and management of motor parks in different parts of Osun.
Law follows renewed motor park disputes
The move towards a formal park management framework intensified in September after a deadly dispute linked to the control of a motor park in Ile-Ife.
Olalekan Oyeyemi, popularly known as Emir Ajagungbade and an associate of Governor Adeleke, was shot dead at Mayfair motor park in Ile-Ife on September 14, according to reports cited during legislative consideration of the park management proposal.
Following the incident, Adeleke directed security agencies to investigate the killing and ordered rival groups to vacate affected motor parks as the government moved to restore order.
The governor subsequently announced plans to reintroduce a Park Management System for motor parks and garages across the state.
The House of Assembly then began legislative work on the proposal, moving the initiative from an executive directive towards a statutory framework.
Assembly advances park management legislation
The Osun State House of Assembly considered the Park Management System Bill, 2026, in September amid calls for greater regulation of motor parks.
The bill was designed to establish a structured system for managing parks, regulate revenue collection and reduce leakages in the state’s internally generated revenue.
Lawmakers also said the framework could help tackle violence, thuggery and alleged extortion affecting transport operators and passengers.
Another proposed feature was the digitalisation of ticketing, which lawmakers said could improve transparency in the collection and accounting of revenue generated from motor parks.
Premium Times reported that lawmakers viewed the proposed system as a way to improve security and accountability while reducing disputes over the control of transport facilities.
The bill subsequently completed the legislative process and was signed into law by Adeleke on October 5.
Speaker highlights sustainable transport practices
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Osun State House of Assembly Speaker Adewale Egbedun said the legislature had complied with its standing rules while processing and finalising the bill.
Egbedun said the new law provides answers to concerns raised by residents about the management of motor parks.
The Osun State Government also said the new legislation incorporates sustainable transport practices, signalling an attempt to link the management of the state’s transport facilities with broader improvements in the transport sector.
The signing ceremony was attended by Deputy Governor Kola Adewusi, Secretary to the State Government Teslim Igbalaye, Head of Service Ayanleye Aina, members of the State Executive Council and other government officials.
NURTW operations affected by new framework
The legislation also comes against the backdrop of the state’s restrictions on activities associated with competing factions within the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW.
Osun Defender reported that the signing was accompanied by the proscription of NURTW activities in the state, citing the governor’s spokesperson.
The development follows a period of heightened tension over leadership and control of motor parks.
In September, the Osun chapter of the Accord Party alleged that some political and transport union actors were attempting to forcefully take control of parks in the state. The allegations were disputed and should not be treated as established facts.
The broader dispute has placed the management of motor parks at the centre of security, revenue and transport policy discussions in Osun.
Why the new Osun park law matters
The new law has implications beyond the administration of motor parks.
For commuters, a properly regulated park system could potentially improve order and safety at transport facilities. For drivers and transport operators, a formal framework could provide clearer rules governing access to parks, ticketing and operational responsibilities.
The state government also stands to benefit if the system improves the collection and accountability of internally generated revenue.
However, the effectiveness of the legislation will depend largely on how it is implemented.
Previous disputes over motor park control demonstrate that transport management in Osun involves competing economic and organisational interests. Any new system will therefore require clear enforcement rules, transparent revenue procedures and effective engagement with legitimate transport stakeholders.
The government’s ability to prevent violence while ensuring that the new framework is applied consistently will also be an important measure of its success.
What happens next
Governor Adeleke has directed that implementation of the law begin immediately.
The next stage will involve translating the legislation into an operational system across motor parks and garages in Osun State.
This is expected to require the establishment and enforcement of the structures provided for under the new law, including arrangements for park administration, revenue collection and regulation of activities within the facilities.
The government will also face the task of managing the transition from existing arrangements while maintaining public order and ensuring that commuters and transport operators are not unnecessarily disrupted.
For Osun residents, the central test will be whether the new framework delivers the promised improvements in safety, accountability, orderliness and transport services.
The signing therefore marks not the end of the park management dispute, but the beginning of a new statutory phase in the state’s attempt to regulate its motor parks and garages.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Osun State Government — Governor Adeleke Signs Osun Park Management Bill Into Law.
- Premium Times — Osun Assembly backs Adeleke’s order to establish motor park management system.
- Punch — Osun Assembly proposes bill to regulate park management.
- The Guardian Nigeria — Report on the Osun transport union dispute and competing allegations.
- Osun Defender — Report on the signing of the Park Management Bill and NURTW restrictions.
