FCTA impounds 40 vehicles, 52 motorcycles

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has impounded 40 cars and 52 motorcycles in its latest clampdown on commercial transport operators violating traffic rules and aiding criminal activities in Abuja. Mandate Secretary of the FCT Transport Secretariat, Barr. Chinedu Elechi, said the operation was carried out by a multi-agency task force comprising the police, civil […]

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has impounded 40 cars and 52 motorcycles in its latest clampdown on commercial transport operators violating traffic rules and aiding criminal activities in Abuja.

Mandate Secretary of the FCT Transport Secretariat, Barr. Chinedu Elechi, said the operation was carried out by a multi-agency task force comprising the police, civil defense, and other security outfits, with a focus on tackling crimes such as kidnapping and the notorious “one-chance” robberies.

The Secretary, who was at the Wuye command of the DRTS to inspect the seized vehicles, explained that while commercial motorcycles seized during the raid would be crushed, vehicles would be subjected to mobile court processes before final decisions are taken.

The Secretary stressed that the clampdown would be sustained as long as violators persist, warning that the FCTA will not relent in enforcing order in the transport sector.

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In his words, “If the people use the bikes and the unpainted vehicles, so long as they are not tired of violating the law, we too cannot be tired. So, sustainability is as they violate. It’s an FCT task. We’ll keep doing it and doing it.”

On the newly commissioned bus terminals, the Mandate Secretary explained that operations would commence fully once procurement processes for private operators under a public-private partnership arrangement are concluded.

“If you go to Mabuchi now, you see that some of our vehicles are already arriving. The difference between government and private is the bureaucracy. So once the procurement process is done on hiring the operator, we’re good to go,” he stated.

Acting Director of the FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), Deborah Osho, also clarified that the vehicles and motorcycles were seized for a range of traffic offenses, with unpainted commercial taxis topping the list.

“They were impounded for various traffic offenses. We have some for route violation. We have some for driving against traffic. And the major one is the unpainted commercial vehicles. You can see that a lot of vehicles around there are not painted. And those are the ones that have been used mostly for one-chance [robberies],” Osho explained.