The Oyo State government yesterday said it has begun registration of motorcycle riders across the state to curb insecurity.
The government noted that considering the level of insecurity in the nation, there is a need to guard against an influx of Okada riders who were believed to have come from neighbouring countries threatening the security of the state.
Speaking in Ibadan at the Correspondent Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, the Executive Assistant to governor Seyi Makinde on Administration and General Services, Rev. Idowu Ogedengbe, maintained that the security of lives and prosperity of the people is one of the priorities of the Makinde administration in the state.
He noted that over 5,000 motorcycle operators have been captured so far, while many would still be registered.
“Okada business is a means of livelihood for some people in the state, it will affect them if their operations is stopped outrightly, any Okada rider who want to operate in the state should register, anybody who failed to do so shall be sanctioned.”
He lamented that one of the major problems facing the current administration in the state is the lack of funds, adding that the effect of covid 19 pandemic and the shortfall in the price of crude oil on the two major sources of revenue for the state government (federal government allocation and internationally generated revenue) was enormous.