By Stanley Onyekwere
No fewer than 1,700 motorcycles confiscated from commercial motorcyclists popularly known as Okada operators in Abuja, the nation’s capital city, were yesterday crushed by the FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS).
According to the DRTS Director, Abdulateef Bello, who supervised the crushing of the motorcycles at the Wuye Command of the Directorate, said the exercise was aimed at sending signals to recalcitrant Okada operators on the administration’s determination to end the operations, in Abuja.
Bello noted that the Directorate is waiting for a forfeiture order to enable it carry out the third round of the crushing exercise.
He therefore warned operators violating the administration’s stance on the restrictions of Okada operations in the capital to desist immediately.
“Today we are crushing exactly 1,700 that is the number we are crushing today even though we still have a lot that are parked awaiting forfeiture order to enable us enlist for the third round of the crushing exercise”, he stressed.
Similarly, the Senior Special Adviser to the FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Ikharo Attah reiterated that the administration is not relenting on its efforts to rid FCT roads of commercial motorcycles, rickety vehicles and every form of illegalities.
Attah lamented that it was disappointing to have Okada riders constituting nuisance on the roads of the Federal Capital City of the country.
According to him, “Anyone who owns a motorcycle that cost 350,000 naira and they’re impounded, it’s enough pain for them.
“Taxi drivers with rickety vehicles, no headlight, no bumper, faulty break pad, it’s enough pain for them. Those who have rickety buses, it’s enough pain for them”.
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