‘Owners of vehicles, tricycles, motorcycles impounded in Abuja will pay dearly’

By Philip Yatai

Owners of vehicles, tricycles and motorcycles impounded in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja will be arraigned before a mobile court for various offences ranging from parking in unauthorised areas, driving against traffic, and operating unregistered and unpainted taxis among others.

Dr Abdulateef Bello, the Director of the FCTA Directorate of Road Traffic Services, also known as Vehicles Inspection Officers (VIO) said this is to ensure that the owners pay dearly for their sins.

At least 149 vehicles, 100 tricycles and motorcycles have been impounded by the FCT administration for various offences.

Bello spoke after he visited some of the VIO Commands where the impounded vehicles, tricycles and motorcycles were kept in Abuja on Friday.

He said the owners of the motorcycles and vehicles have refused to obey simple instructions.

“I always advise that it is cheaper to be on the side of the law to obey simple rules and regulations.

“We have asked commercial motorists to register and operate within the defined routes and motor parks and not to pick indiscriminately from the road corridors.

“We have also told the tricycle operators to operate within the confines of the road plan, already agreed upon.

“They are not supposed to come into the city. They are supposed to transport people that are going into estates and towards suburbs of the city,” he said.

He said that traffic regulations have been reviewed, adding that fines will equally be reviewed upward.

He said that traffic offenders would pay hugely when they face mobile court, “but I am sure it will serve as a deterrence”.

The director said that the directorate was working with the Transport Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration to review existing road traffic policies on traffic management.

This, according to him, will ensure effective regulation of road traffic management.

He noted that until the Abuja Mass Transit became fully operational to meet the needs of commuters, the directorate would continue to battle with unregistered vehicles operating illegally in the city.

“This is because it is a function of demand and supply, but I am sure in no distant time, all these will be a thing of the past,” he said.

(NAN)