#News

Ondo suspends Okada registration to curb influx

Ondo suspends Okada registration to curb influx

By Saheed Ibrahim
|
Amidst the influx of okada riders banned in Lagos migrating into Ondo State, the State Government has unfolded security measures to checkmate them.

To achieve this, the state government has suspended the registration of new motorcycles across the 18 local government areas of the state.

This decision was taken by the government to prevent Okada riders banned from  plying the major roads in Lagos state from crawling into the state, thereby creating security challenge for the people.

Disclosing this in an exclusive interview with The Hope, the Senior Special Assistant to Ondo state Governor on Special Duties, Dr Doyin Odebowale said registration of new commercial motorcyclists known as Okada riders had been put on hold and those who sneaked into the state would surely be fished out.

Odebowale who debunked the rumour that Okada riders from Lagos have flooded the Sunshine state, noted that with the suspension of registration of new okada riders across the state, it is impossible for anybody to operate without being identified by the relevant authorities.

He disclosed that before the latest development, registration of Okada riders in the state had moved from the previous manual method to electronic registration process.

Commenting on the electronic method of registration, Odebowale said, “This was part of the measures put in place, because there were too many complaints of accidents and crime rate was so high that there was no way the government will just stand-by and watch. Picking our people, robbing them at every corner, even at the ATM stands. So we had to insist on registration.

Related News  Ondo 2024 : Adhere to rules, INEC tasks parties

“Now, we get thumb impressions, we capture their pictures and a card is given to them upon the verification of their addresses. Then, the governor directed that we should give them reflective jackets for free. At the back of the jacket, there is a number peculiar to the rider alone and it is not transferable. The number is synchronized with the number on the card. So, with the number, you are able to trace the person. You will see the picture, the house, the guarantor and everything”.

But again, what we are not going to run away from is that we may have some of them sneaking into the state. We are going to get them because we have suspended registration. Nobody is going to get any new card for now. We are going to get them.”

On  the contribution of the Okada riders into the state’s economy, Dr Odebowale revealed that the sector had contributed immensely to the fortunes of Ondo state since the state government took charge of their regulations and control.

He revealed that the revenue generation from the sector has increased from the initial N400,000 to an average of N50million monthly, noting that there was a month the state made N133 million from the sector.

“Of course it has contributed a lot because when we came on board, what the state got was N400,000 a month in all the 18 local government areas from the okada business, but when we took over from the so called union members who were running it, the governor gave a directive that we should organise the sector and we had to suspend the sale of any ticket for seven months while we tried to study the sector.

Related News  ODSCIA, FOMWAN distribute MESH Ramadan food to less privileged

“At the end of the seven months, when we rolled out the tickets in April 2018, the government was shocked; within a week, we made N8 million. In four weeks, we got  about N42 million. The next month, N50 million and in a particular month, we made N70 million and at another time, N133 million

Share

Unbecoming Conducts of Oluwo

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *