Bala directs DRTS to rid Abuja of illegal motor parks

By Stanley Onyekwere

To improve free flow of human and vehicular movement  in and around the 250 square kilometers of the Federal Capital City, the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, has directed the FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) and other security agencies to rid Abuja metropolis of all illegal Motor Parks.

Giving the directive, the Minister, observed that illegal Motor Parks are one of the major causes of traffic bottlenecks around roundabouts and interchanges across the Federal Capital City especially at peak hours.

 Mohammed  specifically instructed that DRTS personnel be deployed to monitor illegal Motor Parks around Berger Junction; NICON Junction; Area 1, Garki; A.Y.A. Asokoro District; Area 3, Garki District; Federal Secretariat, Central Business Distrcit; and Wuse District axis for immediate dislodgement.

He reiterated that security agents must ensure that illegal Motor Parks in Wuse Market, Wuse Bridge, Galadimawa and Eagle Square are also dislodged; stressing that the measure would surely help to improve free flow of human and vehicular movement as well as safeguard the locations from hoodlums.

While disclosing that 3,241 commercial motorcycles (Okada) have been impounded between January and November 17th, 2014, the minister added that another 16 persons were also prosecuted and jailed for two weeks for riding ‘Okada’ in the Federal Capital City despite the ban.

“42 Okada riders pleaded guilty and paid various penalties, while nine of them were discharged and acquitted by the FCT Mobile Court for Traffic Offences”, the Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Sule, yesterday, in a statement quoted the minister.

He further revealed that the FCT Administration issued 41,000 number plates for private cars, 12,987 commercial number plates, 98 fancies and 85 out of series to the members of public between January and November 18th, 2014.

He added that the administration also issued out 18,768 Driver’s Licenses to the residents of the Federal Capital Territory between January and October 18th, 2014.