Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has declared that there is no plan to ban the activities of commercial motorcycle operators popularly known as "Okada" riders in the state.

The governor while speaking 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, said rather than ban the "Okada" riders, 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.

The governor's Special Adviser on Media, Dr Festus Adedayo said in Ibadan on Sunday that the commercial motorcyclists were engaging in a legitimate business of their choice, adding that government would not in any way hinder them from their means of livelihood.

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, 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.