DRTS partners ATRA on sanitizing Keke operations

Stories by Stanley Onyekwere

In furtherance of effort towards sanitizing public transport services in the nation’s capital, the FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) has reiterated resolve to work together with Abuja Tricycle Riders Association (ATRA) to regulate activities of the commercial tricycles popularly known as Keke NAPEP in FCT.
Accordingly, the Directorate urged members of the Association and other organised groups of tricycle operators to be law abiding citizens, in order to ensure a seamless traffic services.
This was disclosed by DRTS Director, Alhaji Wadata Bodinga while playing host to ATRA officials on a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the Directorate, yesterday, in Mabushi District.
Bodinga noted that Keke operators are important stakeholders in the FCT public transport sector, hence the need to partner with them to implement programmes envisaged to ensure orderliness and efficiency as well as safety.
He however reiterated that Keke operators are only to operate within the estates and satellite towns, stressing that operating in restricted areas amounts to breach of regulation and such operator will face punitive measures, in line with the provisions of the regulator.
He also reminded all stakeholders to work together to minimize rancour in the system, urging operators to be peaceful and always seek redress within the ambit of the law.
According to him, the Directorate has commenced routine biometrics capturing, as a temporary arrangement to help coordinate the operations of commercial tricycles, until all necessary infrastructural are provided.
He warned no commercial tricycle is allowed to operate on its own without being duly registered by a recognized Keke Association like ATRA domiciled in Abuja.
“Even though the government didn’t envisaged operation of tricycles in the FCT, but they are only allowed to operate within the ambit of the law because of economic value to the society.
“For safety and security reasons, tricycles are only allowed to ply along the corridors of residential areas, so as to feed the taxes and higher capacity buses,” he stressed.
Earlier in his remarks, ATRA Chairman, Hassan Haske complained bitterly about indiscriminate arrests and harassment by DRTS officials for unclear offences.
He equally decried unfair charges and extortion of members of the Association, on a daily basis.
He appealed to the Directorate to intervene in resolving the issues of serious concern to numerous registered Keke operators under the Association.
Haske however declared willingness to actively participate in the ongoing biometrics capturing process and other initiatives aimed at improving road traffic services in the Territory.