FCTA, FRSC collaborate to improve traffic management in Abuja
By Tribune Online
FCTA, FRSC collaborate to improve traffic management in Abuja
THE Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), in conjunction with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has worked out strategies to improve road traffic management in the territory.
Accordingly, there will be an effective collaboration between both organisations, especially in the enforcement of all extant road traffic rules and regulations.
FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, disclosed this at an interactive session with top officials of the FRSC when he paid a courtesy visit to the FRSC headquarters in Abuja.
On the entourage of the minister were the Permanent Secretary of the FCTA, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa; FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bala Ciroma; the FCT Commandant of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr Patrick Ukpen as well as other senior staff members of the FCT administration.
The minister said the FCT had grown beyond the expectations of its founding fathers hence the need for collaboration with relevant stakeholders to keep the nation’s capital effectively functional.
As part of measures aimed at maintaining an effective and functional traffic system and to stem the rising incidence of kidnapping, armed robbery and “one chance” operations within the city, the minister directed that all illegal car parks be closed, adding that terms and conditions guiding their operations would henceforth be enforced for the operation of those licensed to operate.
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“The collaboration is very important because, based on intelligence and based on actual arrests made, they have been avenues where a lot of criminalities take place such as drug abuse, planning for kidnapping, sale of stolen goods and many others. So, they will be closed down,” he said.
He emphasized the need to sanitize traffic operations within the FCT and to rid the entire road networks within Phase One and parts of Phase Two of the city of traffic gridlock and unlawful activities of tricycle and motorcycle operators.
According to him, “there will be strict enforcement of the ban on the operations of tricycles and motorcycles in all the major roads within Phase One of the city.
“Tricycles, popularly known as Keke Napep, will no longer be allowed to operate on the entire stretch of the Ahmadu Bello Way, up to its Apo end, as well as the Shehu Shagari Expressway.
“The ban on tricycles will be extended to the entire ring road and all the arterial roads into the city. This also includes parts of Asokoro, as well as Life Camp. They will now only be allowed to operate in estates and would no longer be allowed to move from one estate to the other”.
He also warned courier companies to ensure that their dispatch motorcycles operating within the city centre are on genuine assignments and only during official working hours and that riders at all times wear their helmets.
Earlier in his presentation, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, who described the FCT as one of the international gateways to the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as the host of foreign missions and international personalities, said his organization was always ready to enforce traffic regulations and ensure sanity on FCT roads.
He further disclosed that the proposed collaboration with the FCTA would give special attention to issues of unpainted taxis, lane indiscipline, vehicle overload as well as operations of motorcycles and tricycles on the expressway.
Other issues, he stated, include the abuse of sirens and non-usage of pedestrian bridges, adding that a database of the number of taxis, motorcycles and other vehicles operating within the FCT would soon be developed.
FCTA, FRSC collaborate to improve traffic management in Abuja
Tribune Online