Amidst growing security threats from operations of motorcycles, authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) have urged investors to put their monies into other ventures that are profitable and do not constitute security threats to the society.
Secretary, Transportation Secretariat, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Abdullahi Adamu Candido, gave this advice Thursday while inspecting transportation facilities in Abuja.
Candido was speaking against the serious security threats activities of okada operators have continued to pose across the territory.
“Like I said, we would discourage people from using their hard earned money in purchase of motorcycles. There shouldn’t be any reason to buy okada, we will discourage people from investing in okada. When you buy okada and nobody is taking it from you, then they will stop buying,” he advised.
On whether the FCT Administration was planning a total okada ban across the territory, Candido clarified: “But of course, a total pronouncement of ban on commercial motorcycle is in the offing so that we can have a better city.
“However, it is going to be approached with all sense of responsibility so that nobody feels any pinch.”
He also expressed the desire of the FCT Administration to take over the running of its Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centres from the technical partners, insisting that all vehicles on Abuja roads must be roadworthy.
“We intend to get permission of the FCTA to take holistic role of its usage, because citizens must live a life. We will not like a life to be lost as a result of someone’s carelessness.
“We are trying to ensure that drug test is considered by the authorities for all road users, especially for commercial road users, for vehicles, tricycle and okada.
“We will not wait untill lives are endlessly lost before we take action. So we are taking action in order to ensure the city is safe for the citizens,” he said.
The Director, Directorate of Road Traffic Services, Abdullateef Bello, who conducted Candido on the inspection, revealed that over 1,000 confiscated motorcycles would be crushed.
Bello however stated that all necessary legal instruments would be done and the number of the motorcycles gazetted before crushing them.
