Nasir Imam
24 June 2008
The FCT Administration has said that it im-pounded 6,226 commercial motorcycles (popularly called Okada) in the past 20 months, which is from October 1, 2006 to May 30, 2008.
The FCT Minister, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar made this disclosure on Thursday in Abuja while x-raying the activities of the FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS).
The Minister revealed that this accounts for the 5,515 impounded by the FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services and the 771 by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) since the inception of the ban on commercial motorcycles in the Federal Capital City.
Dr. Umar insisted that commercial motorcycles will remained banned in the Federal Capital City because it has reduced traffic crisis in the city in addition to the drastic reduction in the accident rate.
The minister remarked that the Abuja Enterprises Agency has been repositioned to serve as a platform to take care of most people that have been displaced as a result of the ban.
Dr. Umar informed those interested in riding commercial motorcycle to move into the area councils and satellite towns where such trade is still allowed by law because it is less dangerous to use them there than in the city center.
According to him, the FCT Administration has already concluded arrangement with a financial institution to immediately provide 100 buses with a 12-15 person capacity to be used within the Federal Capital City in order to complement the existing large capacity buses that will not be able to ply the smaller roads.
"In order to reduce the burden on the operators and the passengers alike by making it more affordable, the FCT Administration has worked out rental payment presently at 25% less than the current Abuja Green Cabs; while the initial access fee will be 50% lower than current taxi charges," he added.
The FCT Administration has intensified efforts to make the city cleaner as well as its beautification to enable Abuja play its noble role in line with the dream of its founding fathers," he stressed.
The minister advised the few 'okada' riders still operating at the periphery of the Federal Capital City illegally to desist before the long arm of the law catches up with them.
He stated that apart from the danger the 'okada' riders pose to themselves and other road users in the Federal Capital City, they also cause environment nuisance which can never be allowed in Abuja.
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