- says govt will not ban, but modernise Okada, tricycle business
Governor of Oyo State, ‘Seyi Makinde, on Friday, commissioned the Ultra-Modern Okada and Tricycle (otherwise known as Keke NAPEP) Loading Points in Ibadan, the state capital.
The governor, who addressed Keke and motorcycle riders at Agodi Gate area, venue of the event, said the loading points would facilitate easy transportation of residents in the state capital.
He said his administration will not ban the activities of Okada riders but that it would re-organise and coordinate them to conform with modern ways of doing transport business.
He maintained that when properly organised, it would be easy to differentiate individuals doing other businesses from commercial motorcycles and tricycles riders.
He also enjoined Keke and Okada riders to expose anyone among them using Okada to perpetrate crimes.
A statement by the Special Assistant (Print Media) to the governor, Moses Alao, said the governor explained that the loading points were designed as a pilot scheme, adding that if the units are used judiciously, the initiative will be replicated throughout the state.
He said: “You motorcyclists and tricyclists are part of those who brought this government into power and the government has decided to come up with this pilot project.
“We want a situation where those who want to use Okada or tricycles won’t have to stay under the sun or be disturbed by the rain as the rainy season is already here.
“We also want you to be coordinated and organised. I already told the people in charge to install solar lights here so that you can all do your businesses comfortably even at night.
“We don’t want to ban Okada and tricycles in the state but there must be regulation.
“So, what we want you to do is for you to get yourselves organised. We have security challenges and I must say that Okada and tricycle operators have to help the government.
“When you are organised, you can fish out those who are using Okada and tricycles to commit different crimes and hand them over to the law enforcement agencies.
“The good news now is, if you use this place very well as expected, we will replicate it all over the state where there are garages like this in the state.
“At the back of this place, there will be toilets to avoid people messing this place up. So, organise ourselves, because they use Okada and tricycles in other countries too. There is no reason why we cannot manage it successfully here,” Makinde added.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the governor on Security, COMPOL Fatai Owoseni (rtd), praised the governor for his P2P (from Poverty to Prosperity) slogan, which he said is behind encouraging Okada riders in the state to continue in business.
He said: “The governor believes that the transport operation in the state needs to be modernised. That is why we have resolved that the operation of Okada and Keke NAPEP will not be banned in this state but will be modernised.
“So, he has brought the global best practice to Oyo State, which has translated to the construction of two units of an ultra-modern Okada and Keke NAPEP loading point as a pilot scheme.
“What we are seeing here today can contain a total of 90 motorcycles and about 20 tricycles at a go. This will not only help the operation of the Okada riders but also the people who patronise them, who will not have to stand under the sun to board either a motorcycle or a tricycle.
“I thank the governor for the opportunity that you have given us to translate these dreams into a reality,” Owoseni said.