The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, on Thursday, lamented the massive return of commercial motorcycles to Abuja, as it crushed over 200 motorcycles.
The Director FCTA Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), Dr Abdulateef Bello while speaking to journalists at the venue of the crushing of the motorcycles, said there is no going back until the administration achieves a zero-level tolerance.
According to him, “This is the fifth edition in the series and I have no doubt that from the enforcement we have carried out, we have substantially reduced the number of motorcycles in Abuja.
“But it seems as if the efforts will still be on until we achieve the zero level of this exercise. Something tells me that most of these motorcycle riders are those that engage in criminal activities like drug peddling.”
He continued, “I think there are well over 200 motorcycles that we’re crushing today. We will continue to take them week by week until we get rid of them.
“We have already given an order to all our commands that anywhere they are sited they should be impounded and handed over to DRTs.
“Once they are sited at the wrong route they should be impounded and handed over to us”.
Traffic violation
The Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Ikharo Attah, lamented that despite the warnings and advocacy from the administration, the motorcycle riders continue to violate traffic rules in FCT.
He decried the increase of motorcycles in the city centre which according to him is unacceptable.
He said, “It is a new year and we are surprised at the number of motorcycles we got at Guzape, Jahi, Asokoro, Durumi, and Garki despite our advocacy.
“The FCT Minister Malam Muhammad Bello had made it clear that motorcycles cannot operate in these key areas Garki, Asokoro, Lugbe, and the city centre.”
The SSA, also appealed to commercial motorcycle riders to operate their business where it is legal and permissible.
“The legal areas are Kwali, Abaji, Gwagalada and so on but the areas that are illegal include Airport road, Garki, central area, Wuse, Kubwa and so on. All the relevant departments and Secretariats have been doing lots of advocacy”.
Among those who came for the crushing of the motorcycles includes FRSC FCT sector commander, C. C. Ochi Samuel, Commanding officer AHQ Garrison, Lt Col. Murudeen Olawale and 2iC NSCDC FCT Command, DC Felix Ikwuegbu.
Emmanuel Ukoh
