FRSC arrests 250 taxi drivers in two-day raid 

No fewer than 250 commercial taxi drivers have been arrested across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for violating safety directives restricting only one passenger in the front seat.

The arrests, which took place within the first 48 hours of a renewed enforcement drive that began on October 2, were part of a wider campaign to end overloading and unsafe transport practices in Abuja.

Confirming the development, the FCT Sector Commander, Corps Commander Felix Theman, said the operation was launched to restore passenger dignity and safety on the roads.

“Enforcement is the most civil and effective way to ensure that safety is not compromised for convenience,” Theman stated.

He noted that many of the apprehended drivers were found carrying two passengers in the front seat, a practice that violates vehicle design standards and makes proper seatbelt use impossible.

The FRSC warned that overloading endangers lives, puts extra strain on tyres and suspension systems, and reduces a driver’s control in emergencies.

“The overloading of passengers and goods not only endangers lives but also places undue stress on vehicles. It impairs the driver’s ability to control the vehicle effectively, especially in emergency situations,” Theman added.

Theman disclosed that the Command had consulted transport unions and stakeholders before the operation, noting that the unions pledged full support for the safety drive.

The enforcement, he said, is being carried out with the aid of mobile magistrate courts for the on-the-spot prosecution of offenders.

He further warned commercial drivers using unsafe vehicles to upgrade or risk immediate impoundment as part of the broader push for safer urban transport.

“Passengers must support the FRSC’s efforts to protect their right to safe and dignified transportation,” he said.

The FRSC also announced that full activation of mobile court locations across the FCT will begin on Monday, October 6, to further intensify the clampdown on violators.