Design of an Anti-Theft Tracking System for Commercial Motorcycles Using GPS and GSM Technology in Kogi State

Commercial motorcycle theft is a growing economic problem for keke napep and okada riders in Kogi State, North Central Nigeria, many of whom depend entirely on their motorcycles for their livelihoods. This project presents the design of a concealed GPS and GSM-based anti-theft tracking and immobilization system for commercial motorcycles. A SIM7600 GPS and GSM combined module is interfaced with an Arduino Nano microcontroller and concealed within the motorcycle's electrical system. When an unauthorized ignition event is detected through a vibration sensor trigger and a geofence boundary violation, the system sends the real-time GPS coordinates to the registered owner's mobile number via SMS and activates a motorcycle immobilizer relay to cut off the ignition circuit remotely via an SMS command. An owner verification process based on a secret SMS command code is implemented to prevent false immobilization. The system was installed on three commercial motorcycles in Lokoja and evaluated over two months using simulated theft scenarios. GPS location accuracy was within 8 metres in open areas and 22 metres in dense urban environments. Remote immobilization functioned correctly in 17 out of 18 test scenarios. Total installation cost per motorcycle was approximately 22,000 Naira. A survey of 50 commercial motorcycle operators in Kogi State showed that 82 percent would pay for the system if pricing fell below 25,000 Naira. The study recommends integration with the Kogi State security network for real-time law enforcement notification. Keywords: GPS tracking, motorcycle anti-theft, GSM immobilizer, vehicle security, Kogi State