The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has directed commercial transport operators using illegal motor parks and roadside loading points across Abuja to relocate immediately to designated bus terminals or face enforcement measures.
The Mandate Secretary of the FCTA Transportation Secretariat, Mr Chinedum Elechi, issued the directive during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday.
Elechi warned that all unauthorised loading points would be shut down, while vehicles operating from illegal locations would be impounded without further notice.
He recalled that the administration had earlier instructed transport operators to relocate to the newly constructed ultra-modern bus terminals, beginning with the Mabushi Bus Terminal, as part of efforts to improve public transportation across the Federal Capital Territory.
According to him, the exercise is in line with the directive of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, to restore order, enhance security and promote a modern transport system in Abuja.
“The Federal Capital City is the capital of Nigeria, just as London is to the United Kingdom and Paris is to France.
“Our capital must reflect the same standard. A functional public transport system is fundamental to building a modern and orderly city. The era of lawlessness in the FCT is over,” he said.
Elechi explained that the FCTA had invested billions of naira in the construction of ultra-modern bus terminals at Mabushi, Kugbo and the Central Business District (CBD), describing them as the first of their kind in the FCT’s 50-year history.
He said the terminals were designed not only to improve the city’s appearance and support tourism but also to strengthen public safety by centralising transport operations.
The mandate secretary noted that operating from designated terminals would help curb criminal activities, including the notorious “one chance” robberies, as well as drug trafficking and the movement of illegal arms.
He disclosed that a recent enforcement exercise reinforced the administration’s resolve after security operatives discovered suspected illegal items in some of the impounded vehicles.
“About two weeks ago, we carried out a trial enforcement after issuing quit notices to operators. During the operation, we recovered highly illegal items from some of the vehicles. What we found was disturbing.
“Proper profiling of transport operators within official terminals will significantly improve security across the city,” he said.
Elechi said the FCTA had engaged private firms, including Planet Projects, under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement to ensure the efficient management of the bus terminals.
He dismissed claims that the relocation exercise was intended to deprive transport operators of their means of livelihood, stressing that the government was only relocating them from unsafe roadside locations to secure and well-equipped facilities.
“We are not taking away anyone’s livelihood. We are simply asking operators to move from unsafe and unhealthy roadside locations to modern terminals built with public funds. Nobody stands to lose,” he said.
Expressing concern over repeated violations, Elechi recalled that more than 100 vehicles had previously been impounded, while their owners were released after signing undertakings to comply with the regulations.
He, however, lamented that many of the operators returned to the illegal loading points shortly afterwards.
The mandate secretary warned that the Transportation Secretariat would strictly enforce the relevant laws, including Order One introduced during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the FCT Transportation Regulations 2023.
He said the regulations empower the secretariat to license transport operators, seal unauthorised premises being used as illegal motor parks and confiscate vehicles operating in violation of the law.
“They sign undertakings and return to the same illegal locations the following day. We are no longer prepared to tolerate this.
“If anyone converts private premises or open spaces into illegal motor parks, we will seal the premises, impound the vehicles and enforce the law without exception.
“With the full backing of the FCT Minister and the Presidency, we will continue to enforce a zero-tolerance policy against illegal transport operations to restore order, safety and sanity in Abuja,” Elechi said.
