The Oyo State Government, through the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Administration, Reverend Idowu Ogedengbe has disclosed that the present administration in the State is not planning to ban the use of Okada riders, saying that, government will rather register them, regulate their activities efficiently within the transportation system in the State.
He stated this while hosting the management team of MAX, Yamaha NG at the SSG’s conference room, Governor’s Office , Secretariat, Ibadan.
He said the present administration in the State is working hard to move people from poverty to prosperity through labour force participation, which falls within the three thematic areas under it’s human capital development program.
He maintained that the State Government would continue to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises rather than outrightly banning the activities of Okada riders. He hinted that the Oyo State Government will continue to leverage data, science and logic towards policy enactments while giving every business operator, including motor cycle and tricycle riders, the opportunity to operate within a regulated system through biometric registration and data base management.
He said “there are law abiding Okada riders and there are some criminal elements among them as well, what we will do as a Government is to go after those using motorcycles to commit crimes, get them arrested and prosecute them accordingly”.
He continued “instead of proscribing activities of okada riders, we want to give them opportunity to operate within a well regulated system by capturing their details through biometric and ensure that they are within the data base of the Oyo State Government “.
He added that the State Government had started capturing them (Okada Riders) both individual operators and motorcycle owners. Government would also partner with registered neighborhood associations towards enhancing the process for the registration of all the motorcycles and tricycle s in the State.
“Our people are not lazy, they want to work, even though some people come from neighbouring States to Oyo State among the Okada riders, the State is open to accommodating them in as much as they will be law abiding and do not pose any threat to the State. All residents in the State are free to work and earn a living, we can not stop them, because the Nigerian constitution allows everybody to live in any part of the country”.
“We want more productive people to be part of our economy towards contributing their own quotas to the development of the State”.
Earlier in his remarks, the team leader (MAX, Yamaha, MBSN) Mr Adetayo Bamiduro said the team will collaborate with the State Government in training and re -training of drivers, technician and operators in the transportation industry. The company stated that it is introducing electric two and three wheelers as well as motor vehicles in order to promote a more eco friendly environment.
