The Directorate of Road Traffic Services, DRTS, of the Federal Capital Territory Administration has said there’s no going back on its “impound and crush” approach against erring commercial motorcycles found in restricted areas of the territory.
The directorate believes this remains the best measure in addressing their menace in the federal capital city territory.
Head of Operations of the DRTS, Deborah Osho, who stated this during a clampdown on illegal okada operators, said stringent measures are needed to curb the unending activities of commercial motorcycles in restricted areas.
She noted that fines, as alternative to crushing the impounded “Okada”, would not solve the problem, considering that even when the
motorcycles were being crushed, the operators were still violating the ban.
She added that “the fine doesn’t work again. We are looking for a stiffer penalty to make sure we rid the city of the menace of Okada operators.
“There are plans for other punitive measures to address the menace, and we will make it public when concluded.
“As long as Okada operators continue to violate the ban on operating within the city, we will continue to pick them up.”
On his part, the Secretary, Command and Control FCTA, Dr Peter Olumuji said the operation was a fall out of Idu- Karmo residents passionate appeal to stem the tide of insecurity in the area.
According to hum, “Especially those who live around Idu, Karimo axis,they have being complaining about the nefarious activities of these motorcyclists who are not even meant to operate in those places” Olumuji said.
On insinuations from some quarters that the recently distributed motorcycles by the FCT Minister to security agencies were part of the impounded motorcycles, Olumuji described the insinuations as an unpatriotic misconception and untrue.
“contrary to what people are saying, that seized motorcycles are been converted for security purposes by the FCT Minister, well this is a misconception by those who have refused to make enquires on the true picture of things.
“The bikes that were inaugurated by the FCT Administration some few weeks ago is meant for security operations. it is not for commercial but for security purposes, and it is not even the bikes impounded by the Directorate of Road Transport Services, DRTS.
“Those bikes were specially bought for security operations the security agencies, the vigilante and hunters who are complementing their efforts can now go into those difficult and mountainous areas in the boarder communities and…alot of arrests have been made because of the use of those bikes in difficult terrains.”he said.
