FCTA To Ban Unpainted Taxis, Buses Over ‘One-Chance’

By: Wisdom Acka

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has revealed plans to ban operation of unpainted taxis and buses in the Territory. 

FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, who disclosed this during a recent media chat in Abuja, explained that the move was to address the incidence of ‘one chance’ in the city.

‘One-Chance’ refers to insecurity situation where criminals pose as taxi drivers,  rob, assault, and sometimes kill their victims.

However, noting that one-chance menace has reduced in Abuja, Wike added that stricter measures were necessary to end the trend in the FCT.   

His words: “We are not going to allow vehicles that are not painted with FCT colour and registered by the FCTA to ply commercial in the Territory.

“That way, you know the driver is certified by the FCTA and the buses and the taxis were also approved,” he said.

“When this is done, you as the passenger will not take the risk of going to enter any vehicle that you don’t even know,” Wike added.

The Minister reiterated that Uber operators would also have to be duely registered to operate in Abuja, so that government would know who the drivers were.

He expressed concern that the Territory does not have an official terminal. 

“This is a city, if you don’t have rules, there will be problems. That way, you know the drivers and the vehicle that you are entering. But currently, everybody is just on the road. You are going to Nyanya, a car is on the road, you enter; you are going to Wuye, a car is on the road,  you enter,” he said.

“What we are trying to do in the 2024 fiscal year is to, at least, build three terminals for a start, so that we will know the buses and taxes that will carry people from such terminals. When this is done nobody will take the risk of going on the road to wait for a taxi. That way, you will be able to reduce crime”, he assured.