In a major crackdown on illegal commercial operations, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has impounded 40 vehicles and 52 motorcycles to curb violent robberies and restore sanity to the city’s transport system.
The operation, which targeted vehicles used for the notorious ‘one chance’ crimes, where criminals posing as taxi drivers rob and assault passengers, was conducted by a multi-agency task force involving the police, civil defence, and the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS).
Inspecting the seized vehicles at the Wuye DRTS command, Chinedu Elechi, the mandate secretary of the FCT Transport Secretariat, declared that the administration would not relent in its efforts.
He directly linked the use of unpainted, unregistered cabs to the security crisis.
“There has to be sanity. The function of government is actually welfare and security. And so we’ll not be tired because we know that one of the security breaches is the use of unpainted vehicles to carry passengers. That is where the one-chance thing happens. It hardly happens with the painted taxis,” he said.
Elechi clarified that while the impounded motorcycles would be crushed, the vehicles would face due process through mobile courts.
“We don’t just impound; the owners will face a mobile court. All of these things happened after the court order,” he explained.
He warned violators sternly, emphasising that the clampdown is a permanent feature of the FCTA’s strategy.
“If people use bikes and unpainted vehicles, as long as they are not tired of violating the law, we too cannot be tired. So sustainability is as they violate. It’s an FCT task. We’ll keep doing it and doing it,” he said.
The secretary unveiled a comprehensive plan to profile all commercial drivers in Abuja. The initiative ensures that every legal taxi is clearly identifiable, protecting commuters.
“We are going to have security programmes involving getting all the drivers. We will allocate numbers to all the taxis.
“If you are going to be doing transportation in Abuja, we will profile all commercial drivers so that everybody will know that when you enter a commercial vehicle, it is painted and has a side number. If you decide to use your vehicle for transportation, we will come after you,” he said.
The acting director of the DRTS, Deborah Osho, provided a breakdown of the offences that led to the seizures.
She confirmed that the primary target was unpainted taxis, the preferred mode of operation for ‘one chance’ gangs.
“They were impounded for various traffic offences. We have some for route violations. We have some for driving against the traffic. And the major one is the unpainted commercial vehicles.
“You can see that many vehicles around there are not painted. And those are used mostly for one chance,” she said.
Osho highlighted their connection to other crimes on the impounded motorcycles and tricycles.
“These are also mainly used for criminal activities. You can see bag snatching and all manner of activities in the town,” she added.
The FCTA also announced that operations at newly commissioned bus terminals in areas like Mabuchi will commence fully once private operators are procured through a public-private partnership, signalling a broader strategy to provide safe and regulated commuter alternatives.
