Commercial motorcycle riders in Bamenda must not carry more than one passenger, according to a report of an order issued by Mezam Senior Divisional Officer Simon Emile Mooh on 7 October 2026. The same report says riders were cautioned against jackets that are not approved by municipal council authorities.
What does the Bamenda bike communiqué say?
Beta Tinz, in its report dated 7 October, says the SDO banned the circulation of commercial motorbikes carrying more than one passenger in Bamenda. In practical terms, the passenger limit means one customer travelling with the rider—not two customers on the same commercial bike.
The report also says riders should avoid irregular jackets that have not been “homologated” by municipal council authorities. Homologated means officially approved. A jacket that merely looks like a rider’s jacket should not be assumed to satisfy that requirement.
The full signed communiqué has not been independently obtained for this article. These details are attributed to the published report, rather than presented as a transcription of the original administrative document.
At a glance: the measures are not all the same
- Passenger limit: the reported 7 October Mezam order concerns commercial bikes carrying more than one passenger in Bamenda.
- Rider jackets: Beta Tinz reports a warning against jackets not approved by municipal council authorities.
- Motorcycle sales: a separate ministerial measure announced a 48-hour suspension of sales in the North West Region for an inventory of bikes in shops.
- Identification and plates: Cameroon News Agency reports requirements for rider identification and number plates accompanying motorcycle sales.
The suspension of motorcycle sales should not be confused with a blanket ban on every motorcycle journey. The reports describe different measures affecting different parts of the transport sector.
Why did authorities introduce the restrictions?
The SDO’s order was reported as a security measure. Beta Tinz links it to attacks involving motorcycles. Separately, Cameroon News Agency describes the minister’s measures as an effort to strengthen regulation, identification and monitoring of the motorcycle transport sector.
This is the authorities’ reported rationale. It is not a claim that commercial riders as a group are involved in crime, and it should not be used to stigmatise riders or passengers.
The separate 48-hour motorcycle-sales suspension
Cameroon News Agency’s 6 October report says Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji ordered a 48-hour halt in motorcycle sales across the North West Region. The stated purpose was to let administrative authorities inventory motorcycles held in shops.
BeriComsEmpire’s report, published on 6 October, places the meeting at which the announcement was made on Monday, 5 October. That distinction matters: the publication date of a news story is not necessarily the start time of an administrative restriction.
The sources reviewed here do not establish a precise start hour, end hour, or confirmed reopening instruction. This article therefore does not declare that sales automatically resumed on a particular date. Dealers should confirm the applicable position with the competent administrative authorities before completing a sale.
Cameroon News Agency also reports that every motorbike sale must be accompanied by a number plate, with vendors expected to facilitate the process, and that riders must undergo proper identification. These are reported requirements, not a complete registration checklist.
What riders, passengers and dealers should check
For riders: do not take a second passenger on a commercial bike under the reported Bamenda rule. Ask the relevant council how jacket approval and rider identification are being handled. This article cannot confirm jacket colours, fees, collection points or required documents.
For passengers: plan separate rides if two people need to travel. When going to Bamenda Main Market, avoid assuming that an extra passenger is allowed just because the trip is short. For general location information, see the Bamenda map and directions.
For motorcycle dealers: seek instructions on stock declarations, the sales suspension and registration arrangements from the competent authorities. Keep the temporary inventory exercise distinct from the reported number-plate requirements for subsequent sales.
Are there new operating hours, fines or exceptions?
The October reports reviewed for this article do not give a verified new night-time curfew, street-by-street boundary, fixed fine, or detailed exception list. Older restrictions should not be recycled as if they were confirmed terms of the 7 October communiqué.
Beta Tinz reports that violations will be punished “in accordance with the rules and regulations in force.” That wording does not establish a specific fine, prison term or confiscation procedure. Anyone needing the exact legal provisions should obtain the signed order and current guidance from the issuing authority.
What remains unverified
Bamenda Main Market has not independently authenticated the original signed order, an order number, its full legal text, the exact sales-suspension timetable, or any later amendment. A reported rule should not be extended to other towns or private motorcycle use without checking the underlying text.
This explainer separates what the cited reports say from practical advice and missing information. It will need review if the competent authorities issue a clarification or replacement order. For more dated reporting, visit Bamenda news.