Over 15 years after the restriction on the movement of articulated vehicles on busy roads in the Federal Capital Territory, the law seems not be enforced, as heavy duty trucks are still responsible for multiple accidents in the territory.
In 2010, the FCT Administration placed restrictions on the movement of articulated vehicles including trailers, tankers and tippers along the major arterial roads of Gwagwalada, Suleja and Nyanya, to allow for free flow of traffic and also reduce reports of incessant accidents on those routes.
The traffic laws specified that articulated vehicles were restricted from plying FCT roads during peak period between 4pm to 10 pm, and 6 am to 9 am. Offenderrs could be fined N100,000 penalty, impounding of truck or even withdrawal of driver’s licence for third time offenders.
However, the FCT Administration says the court judgement barring the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, DRTS, otherwise known as VIO from stopping and impounding offending vehicles on Abuja roads has affected the enforcement of the restriction on movement of articulated vehicles.
A Federal High Court in Abuja had in October 2024, ruled that the DTRS lacks the legal authority to stop vehicles, confiscate them, or impose fines on motorist
The Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, told The Abuja Inquirer that though the FCTA has appealed the judgement, however, noting that DRTS officials cannot for now impound vehicles of offenders until a judgment from the upper court upturns the subsisting ruling.
Also, the spokesperson, Directorate for Road Traffic Services, Federal Capital Territory, Kalu Emetu, told our correspondent that as a law abiding organisation, the DRTS has continued to keep away from the road as directed by the court.
He warned that the dangers of the continued absence of VIO officers from the roads could be fatal as was witnessed last Wednesday.
“Last Wednesday’s accident as unfortunate as it was, could be said to be part of the losses the FCT stands to experience following the court pronouncement.
“Of course, we understand that it is an accident but it may have been prevented if the men of the Directorate were on the road, a function that most times, involves saving of lives.
“Many road users understand that DRTS officials risk their lives to ensure that most drivers of articulated vehicles obey the regulation. They do not allow such category of vehicles to move during the peak period, 4pm to 10pm and 6am to 9am.
“The Directorate of Road Traffic Services and indeed, FCT Administration as a law abiding organisation has continued to keep away from the road as directed by the court.
“There was an attempt to perform some of the functions especially the ones that have to do with life but some Nigerians who are supposed to know better started writing petitions here and there. Nigerians are not blaming the administration but the challenge which arises from judicial pronouncement.”
The nation’s capital has witnessed several accidents caused by heavy duty vehicles, especially along the Nyanya/Keffi Expressway.
Only last Wednesday, authorities confirmed that 10 persons lost their lives in the Karu Bridge accident when a CNG powered trailer lost control around 7pm and ran into several vehicles.
The FCT Emergency Management Department, FEMD, confirmed that 30 persons sustained varying degrees of injuries from the explosion, while 14 vehicles were destroyed in the inferno.
The next day, being Thursday, another trailer loaded with fertilizer ran into a mini-van and a dump truck close to the Karu Bridge where it overturned, spilling its contents all over the road and blocking the highway for hours.
The Federal Fire Service, FFS, confirmed that two people lost their lives in the second accident
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