The operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Administration Joint Task Force Team on Thursday, crushed over 400 impounded commercial motorcycles popularly know as okada for traffic violations in the Federal Capital City.
The seizure followed the combing of strategic spots that the okada operators use as their routes for operations, like Kpaduma II, Asokoro extension, Galadimawa by Primary School, Gudu market, Kabusa junction, and Apo mechanic.
Commissioner of Police, the Federal Capital Territory, Garba Haruna, who spoke before crushing of the impounded motorcycles at Area 1, said the exercise was a sign that the law on the okada ban was still enforced.
“FCT residents are aware that motorcycles had been banned from entering the Federal Capital City since 2006, crushing of the okada is to show a signal that the city centre is not an area for them to operate.
“There are designated areas for them to operate, that is the suburbs of FCT, so the recalcitrant type will learn from this exercise. We don’t want to see any motorcycles in the city centre,” Haruna said.
Also speaking, the Director FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services, Abdulateef Bello said the new Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike has given the Directorate a marching order to ensure commercial motorcyclists and Keke NAPEP operators are taken off Abuja roads.
He stressed that even though the DRTS has been working hard to sustain the ban on okada riders within Abuja metropolis since it was put in place in 2006, the recalcitrant operators keep returning to the roads.
He said the Administration had declared zero tolerance for illegal activities and would ensure the effort is sustained under the new administration.
