The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has extended the ban of operations of commercial motorcyclists and tricycles to some new areas in the FCT.
A statement by the Deputy Director, Information, Ughamadu Ifeanyi named the areas as Guzape District comprising AYA, Asokoro, Apo Roundabout and Area One; Jahi District comprising Next Cash and Carry area to Kubwa Express Way and Life Camp Express Way and Gudu District comprising Garki 2, Apo Legislative Quarters, Area 10, Police Command.
The others are Gishiri comprising opposite Nicon Junction, Mabushi and Next Cash and Carry area; Dakibiyu comprising Jabi motor Park and surrounding areas and Galadimawa District comprising from Galadimawa Roundabout through Games Village to Area One, Jabi by Judicial Institute, Federal Medical Centre, Dantata Bridge.
The rest are Apo NEPA comprising NEPA to Cemetery Roundabout, to Gudu Cemetery and to Apo Resettlement; Maitama Extension Comprising Towards Mpape and Katampe Extension; and Kugbo/Karu Junctions comprising Asokoro, Asokoro Police Command and AYA.
Kafe District, Godab Estate, Brains and Hammers, ACO Estate, Paradise Estate, Kafe Garden Estate, Sunshine Estate, etc. comprising Life camp and environs which were given partial ban because of large concentration of estates in the areas.
The statement noted that the ban was necessitated by the continued lawlessness exhibited by Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators in the Federal Capital Territory where they have metamorphosed from constituting traffic nuisance to becoming security threat.
According to Ughamadu, the Transportation Secretariat has communicated the new areas captured in the ban to all the Unions coordinating Tricycle and Commercial Motorcycle operators in the Territory.
and presented to them the new areas to be added to the enforcement list of Okada ban in the Federal Capital City.
Speaking during a meeting held between the operators and the Transportation Secretariat, the Secretary Abdullahi Adamu Candido told the union leaders that the services they are providing in the Territory have come with lots of issues and the Administration will not shy away from tackling the issues.
“We will find solutions to the challenges,” Candido said just as he also decried the loss of lives and property associated with the activities of the riders.
He said “the Administration will not hesitate to discipline any group that tend to cause hardship on other residents.
“We have a mandate to reposition things in the Territory with civility and respect. Government will explain to you why certain actions have to be taken and your cooperation will be highly appreciated.”
Candido told the union leaders to fish out the bad eggs in their midst and flush them out, reminding them that the Administration’s Traffic and Road Transport Laws must be obeyed at all times.
Also speaking, Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Mr Ikharo Attah regretted that both tricycle and motorcycle operators have not reciprocated the Minister’s good gestures to them, adding that “if they had respected the laws of the Territory governing their operation there would not have been any need for the ban.
He advised the leadership to do the right thing, while also condemning ‘Okada’ riders who carry ‘dagger’ questioning their intentions.
He said “carrying dagger means you have the intention to kill and allowing them to operate in the Territory will not be at the detriment of other residents.”
Responding, the National Welfare Officer of NACTOMORAS, Musa Ibrahim said their unions do not control many areas where the reported infractions are observed, adding that many “Okada and keke” operators are not members of their unions and that their activities were giving the unions sleepless nights.
He reiterated his demand for the creation of a central platform where all operators of commercial motorcycles and tricycles are captured for ease of identification and for security purposes.
The unions present at the meeting include National Commercial Tricycle Owners and Riders Association, Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria, Amalgamated Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners Association of Nigeria and Riders and Owners of Motorcycle Association of Nigeria.
