Why we destroyed 1,700 motorcycles -FCTA

By: Wisdom Acka

Authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) explained that 1, 700 motorcycles were crushed to serve as a deterrence to violation of the ban on motorcycle operation in the Federal Capital City and some parts of the Territory.

Recall that the Administration banned activities of motorcycle, popularity known as okada, in 2006.

Last time motorcycles were crushed in the FCT was in December 2021.

Director, FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services, Dr. Abdulateef Bello, gave this explanation while
addressing journalists during commencement of the second phase of the exercise at Wuye on Wednesday.

Bello said: “Efforts of the enforcement on okada ban in FCT is yielding so much results. Today, We are starting with over 1,700 motorcycles, they were impounded from people that remained adamant operating within unauthorized areas.

“The DRTS task force always demonstrates substantial capacity to manage the enforcement but it would not be enough without the cooperation and support of the command and control established in the Federal Capital Territory Administration with the support of the joint security task force being managed by the FCT Police Command.

His words: “So, today we are marking another beginning by performing the crushing”.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to FCT Minister, Ikharo Attah stated “anyone who owns a motorcycle that cost 350,000 naira and they’re impounded, it’s enough pain for them”.

“We are humans as well, when we take these from them, we believe we have taken so much and one thing fundamental about enforcement that we’ve all come to believe is that the best answer to sustained enforcement is more enforcement”, he added.

Ikharo called on owners of the motorcycles to also desist from allowing the riders operate in unauthorised places.

“Most of this okadas are not owned by the riders. People actually give them on what they call balance and carry; they should desist from this because once we get them, they are gone and you don’t need to waste your money. And we’re ultimately going to take a tough decision on this” he emphasized.

On his part, the FCT commissioner of police, Sunday Babaji who was represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Hauwa Ibrahim said: “The reasons behind the impounding of motorcycles in Abuja, was as a result of criminal activities being conducted by some persons, using motorcycles”.

The Police Commissioner said that the use of okada in snatching of bags, bank robberies, attacks on residential areas, which were becoming security threat to the FCT was one of causes of the ban in the city in 2006 by the FCT Administration.

On his part, the Secretary, FCT Transportation Secretariat, Usman Yahaya warned that despite strong resistance from motorcycle operators, the Secretariat would not be overwhelmed.

According to him, motorcycle operators are stubborn but we won’t relent in our efforts to stop them from operating in the city centre.