Traffic route violations: FCTA impounds 251 tricycles ...We may explore crushing option- DRTS boss

By Stanley Onyekwere

No fewer than 251 tricycles popularly known as Keke NAPEP have been impounded for violation of planned route for their operations in Abuja, the nation’s capital city.

Making this disclosure yesterday, Director, FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), Dr. AbdulLateef Bello, explained that the impoundment took place within the last one month of strict enforcement of planned route directive for the operations of tricycles in the Territory.

Bello, however warned that the government might be forced to equally be looking at crushing defaulting tricycles, the way the motorcycles are been treated, after obtaining forfeiture order.

He disclosed that it was observed that driving around the city particularly in the evening, the operators of Keke NAPEP were seen riding through Area 3 to Area 7 down to Area 10, and almost operating all over the Central Business District of the FCC, which according to him is not acceptable.

He said: “All Keke NAPEP must operate outside the city centre, as they are supposed to provide last mile for commuters by going behind their residences in the estates and suburbs.

“So, to us the exercise is for warning those who have refused to obey simple understanding of the route plan already agreed upon. So we are taking them in now, and we are going to make them to face the mobile court for award of penalties.

“It is going to be a last warning, because we are now thinking whether we should equally be looking at crushing them, the way we have been doing with the motorcycles after obtaining forfeiture order”.

He continues: “To those who are investing in the Keke NAPEP business in the city should please call their operators to order.

“Apart from violating the route plan, there are so many rickety vehicles that are not roadworthy, any vehicle should be made to undergo inspection at our various centres in the citywe have up to five of them.

“Vehicles were impounded for traffic violations, most especially route violation. We had series of engagement with all the unions in the past, including the operators themselves on the need by abide by the route plan already agreed upon.

“The DRTS in the past one month has been very active in ensuring that some of these vehicles are removed from the road, and ensure we have a seamless traffic flow.

“Despite all the efforts the administration is making to ensure we have roadworthy vehicles on our roads, there are still some recalcitrant operators, who bring in very rickety vehicles that constitute an eyesore in the city.

“We been having series of pleas from different quarters that we should release, forgive and all that. So, the era of forgiveness, negotiation is over, what we are doing now is giving back in the language that I think they understand, which is enforcement, and we will not relent”.

Furthermore, the DRTS boss warned those that are investing in motorcycles to have a rethink, because we don’t want them to operate within the city, as we will continue to do our job to ensure that we have not just a safer city, but a city devoid of pollution.

“So for the over 300 impounded motorcycles at the its Wuye office, will be crushed before the end of this week, after the forfeiture order have been granted to the Directorate”, he stressed.

On his part, the Mandate Secretary, FCT Transport Secretariat, Abdullahi Adamu Candido, reiterated that Abuja is a planned city, which must be respected and seen in that perspective.

He noted that the government is not insensitive to the peoples concerns, but unfortunately those who like flaunt rules and regulations are making it very possible for the government to keep coming with this kind of policies, because of the need to sanitise the city.

Similarly, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, noted that what the DRTS under Dr. Abdul-Lateef Bello is carrying out is enjoying the blessing of the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, who had given the marching older, as noting halts the Minister like seeing rickety vehicles and contravention of route guidelines or directives, thereby painting Abuja in very bad light.

Attah, who revealed that some stakeholders that have become victims of the misbehaviours of the Keke NAPEP who riding against the traffic rules in FCT, are already putting pressure on the system that as Okada is currently witnessing crushing, if they don’t stop, and confront to the law, they should also face crushing, said: “but such has not be taken as a directive or decision yet, so all will be going to the mobile court, and the Minister is keen at doing that until May 29, so this is not stopping”.

Reacting to the development, Apo Branch Chairman of Keke NAPEP operators, Jamilu Idris Abdullahi revealed that to help mitigate the route violations, they have formed a joint taskforce to ensure defaulters are stopped from doing so.

He however, appealed for the government to help free some areas that they are supposed to operate that are currently been dominated by commercial motorcycle operators, to enable them move and operate there.

He adds: “ The areas include Jabi-Dakibiu, Apo Resettlement, Apo Nepa, Kabusa Junction down to Lokogoma and Galadimawa”.