*Abuja, Nigeria – September 1, 2023* – Over 500 commercial motorcycles were impounded and subsequently crushed by the Joint Task Force of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in Abuja on the orders of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. This operation follows the recent ban on commercial motorcyclists and Keke NAPEP operators from operating on Abuja roads.
The operation was carried out under tight security measures, with the seized motorcycles being crushed beyond recognition while their owners watched helplessly. The crackdown targeted strategic locations used by okada operators as operational routes, including Kpaduma II, Asokoro Extension, Galadimawa near Primary School, Gudu market, Kabusa junction, and Apo mechanic.
Before the motorcycles were crushed, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Garba Haruna, reaffirmed the ban on okada operators in the Federal Capital City, emphasizing that designated areas exist for their operations in the suburbs of FCT. He stated that the crushing of the motorcycles serves as a signal that the city center is off-limits for them.
Dr. Abdulateef Bello, the Director of the FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), revealed that Minister Nyesom Wike had directed the directorate to ensure the removal of commercial motorcyclists and Keke NAPEP operators from Abuja roads. Despite previous bans, okada operators continued to return to the city’s roads, leading to this crackdown.
The FCT administration has declared zero tolerance for such illegal activities and intends to sustain these efforts under the new administration.
