No plan to ban `Okada’ riders in Oyo – Ajimobi
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has declared that his administration has no intention of banning the activities of commercial motorcyclists popularly known as Okada riders in the state.
He made the declaration at the week-end while addressing plank sellers at the Sango Market, Ibadan during his sympathy visit to them over the inferno that destroyed part of the market recently.
Rather than ban the okada riders, the governor said that his government had put necessary machinery in place to train and retrain them with a view to acquiring more knowledge and experience on the job.
According to him, the commercial motorcyclists are engaging in a legitimate business of their choice, adding that government would not in any way hinder them from their means of livelihood.
Governor Ajimobi said that the position of his government was to have their activities regulated and controlled so as not to constitute any form of nuisance to public order as some of them had been accused of using their motorcycles for robbery and other anti-social activities.
He said that the okada riders would be issued with identification numbers to reduce the incidence of robbery to the barest minimum.
The governor, while sympathizing with the plank sellers announced an initial donation of N5 million to them to cushion the effect of the property lost to the inferno.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the market, Mr. Taiwo Faseyitan called for government’s intervention in rebuilding the burnt market.
He pledged the support and cooperation of his members to the administration of Governor Ajimobi.
