Cameroon’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, has ordered a 48-hour suspension of motorcycle sales in the North West Region as authorities intensify measures to curb kidnapping for ransom, rape, torture and other forms of criminality reported in parts of Bamenda in recent months.
The minister issued the directive on October 5, 2026, in Bamenda, where he chaired a meeting involving representatives of the motorcycle-riding sector, administrative authorities, and defence and security forces.
The meeting focused largely on tightening controls within the motorcycle sector, which the authorities say has been exploited by individuals involved in criminal activities.
Outlining measures aimed at restoring order in the sector, Minister Atanga Nji stressed the need for every motorcycle operating in the region to be properly identified and registered.
Under the new measures, motorcycle dealers are expected to ensure that every motorcycle sold is duly registered and immatriculated through the Ministry of Transport.
For the next 48 hours, motorcycle dealers have also been instructed to declare to the competent administrative authorities the number of motorcycles in their possession. Any subsequent sales are expected to comply fully with the applicable administrative and registration requirements.
The minister warned against attempts to circumvent the measure by purchasing motorcycles from neighbouring regions and bringing them into the North West.
He said individuals caught attempting to evade the new controls by acquiring motorcycles outside the region would face severe sanctions.
The October 5 meeting came three years after a previous meeting between the authorities and motorcycle riders aimed at addressing persistent challenges within the sector.
According to Minister Atanga Nji, measures adopted in 2023 have produced limited compliance, with only about 20 percent of motorcycle riders reportedly conforming to the regulations introduced at the time.
He said the situation could no longer be allowed to continue, announcing stricter measures intended to improve discipline, accountability and security within the sector.
One of the measures highlighted by the minister is a restriction on the number of passengers that motorcycle riders in Bamenda can carry.
According to him, motorcycle riders will no longer be permitted to transport more than one passenger on a motorcycle.
Minister Atanga Nji also raised concerns over the alleged involvement of some motorcycle riders in violent crime.
He said more than 300 cases had been recorded in recent months involving motorcycle riders allegedly found in possession of weapons, including guns and knives.
According to the minister, some of these weapons have been used in attacks against civilians.
The government is therefore seeking greater cooperation from motorcycle riders and their associations in identifying individuals who use the sector as a cover for criminal activities.
“We are partners in development. We will support you to do your businesses peacefully, but you must also do that while respecting the rules and regulations of the Republic,” Minister Atanga Nji told the riders.
Minister Paul Atanga Nji pledges to support registration of first 100 motorcycles
In an effort to encourage compliance, Minister Atanga Nji announced that he would personally pay for the registration and immatriculation of the first 100 motorcycles presented to him by the president of the motorcycle riders’ union.
The gesture, he said, is intended to support efforts to bring motorcycles operating in the city and region into compliance with existing regulations.
The announcement comes as authorities seek to improve the identification and traceability of motorcycles amid growing security concerns.
Receiving the Holy Quran The meeting also took a religious dimension, with Minister Paul Atanga Nji distributing Bibles and Qurans to the motorcycle riders.
He urged them to reflect on the teachings contained in the holy books and warned that continuing to engage in criminal activities after receiving the holy books will be met with divine justice.
The meeting ended with renewed calls for motorcycle riders to cooperate with the administrative and security authorities and to distance themselves from criminal activities.
The measure on sales on bikes announced by Minister Paul Atanga Nji takes effect on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
Authorities are now expected to monitor compliance closely, particularly with regard to motorcycle registration, sales, passenger limits and the identification of riders operating within Bamenda and other parts of the North West Region.
By
Ndi Tsembom Elvis
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