Identification of commercial bike riders: Douala City Council, MTN intensify campaign.

The areas include Santa Lucia Bonamoussadi, Carrefour Eto'o, Rond point Petit Pays, Rond Poulain, Carrefour Ndokoti among others. By targeting this sector, the City Council intends to restore order in one of the most sensitive domains of Cameroon's economy and social life. 

The commercial motor bike sector has for the past years become one of the most active sectors in the country’s economy and has contributed in offering a source of livelihood to several families. 

City Council officials said, the move had as aim to sensitise bike riders on the need of getting enrolled on the numerical identification platform, an act that will give them the opportunity to get a merchant code provided by MTN.

The code, it was said helps to resolve issues relating to shortage of coins which has posed great hindrance to their day-to-day activities.

According to the Douala City Council, riders with category B driver’s license are those eligible to be given merchants' codes, which will permit them to get paid through mobile money without any charges. 

According to the second Deputy Mayor, Dr Roger Ndjitchoua, the City Council had given an opportunity to commercial bike riders who do not yet have their driving license to enroll and get trained. 

He said those who are willing are to pay the sum of 5,000FCFA which covers pre-examinations while the City Council and its partners cover the cost of the training. 

“Over 20, 000 commercial bike riders succeeded in their examination and can today boast of a driver's license. We are now in the second phase which is that of identification and sanitisation of the sector,” Dr Ndjitchoua said. 

He went on to add that Douala City Mayor has launched another training of about 10, 000 commercial bike riders, who will be issued drivers’ license upon completion this year, with the next batch of commercial moto bike riders to be trained and issued drivers' license in 2026.

While disclosing that Douala now host about 50 000 bike riders, the authority said these persons are most often faced with insecurity challenges in the city. 

“There are so many fake people in this sector, they take advantage of commercial moto bike riding to carry out their criminal activities,” Dr Ndjitchoua said. 

He stated that the Identification campaign, will also help in curbing the rate of insecurity in the city.

Mezkeng Perez, a commercial bike rider used the opportunity to call on his peers to get registered, adding that it will help their sector can vindicate itself from such accusations 

He added that his colleagues should avoid looking at the commercial benefits from the project but should think of ensuring their safety that of Cameroonians.

Enter MTN official

On her part, Tracy Kadji, representative of Mobile Money Cooperation, expressed satisfaction as the joint efforts for safety, stating that it is yielding positive fruits.

“We are honoured to partner with the Douala City Council, with the aim to ensure security and road safety and add value to the commercial moto bike sector through a numeric platform that we have made available for the City Council to identify commercial bike riders,” Kadji said, while reiterating the need for all to heed to the call and reap enormous benefit from the platform 

It was disclosed over 20 000 customised safety jackets, umbrellas and helmets are said to be available for bikers who will enroll in the identification digital platform. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3472 of Friday June 13, 2025