By Stanley Onyekwere
In furtherance to its reinvigorated enforcement of the prohibition of commercial motorcycles otherwise known as okada operations, the Federal Capital Territory Directorate of Road Traffic Services (FCT-DRTS) has commenced crushing a total of 1,500 confiscated and forfeited motorcycles
Explaining the exercise, which was officially flagged off yesterday in Wuye District of Abuja, Director of FCT-DRTS, Alhaji Wadata Bodinga, those earmarked for destruction were duly forfeited by competent court of law.
Bodinga revealed that another six hundred confiscated motorcycles are undergoing the process of forfieture, before they would be crushed.
He said the exercise would serve as a deterrent to recalcitrant okada riders and those aiding their operations in the Federal Capital City (FCC).
According to him, “This is the beginning of crushing of the seized motorcycles in the FCT that have been duly forfeited by competent court of law.
“So, this is to send signal to and warning to recalcitrant operators in the city, but the law-abiding ones that are ready to obey the law, we are equally ready to work with them as paryners in the transportation sector, in synergy with other security and paramilitary agencies towards safeguarding lives and property of the residents of the city.
“The process is ongoing, until we can ensure that the last motorcycle here are completely crushed.”
He however, revealed that after the crushing of the motorcycles, they scrap metal are going to be recycled for other useful things for the society.
Similarly, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Babaji Sunday, noted that the exercise would significantlt help to reduce crime and criminality in the nation’s capital city.
“The CP, who is also the Chairman of the FCT Security Command Control Centre, said: “seeing is believing, so you have seen it, and those that are ready to obey the law, will have it fine, but those that are not have seen what we can do, that is the message that we are sending to them.
“They use most of these motorcycles to commit most of the crimes especially kidnapping and banditry, as they hadly use vehicles on those difficult terrain, and even within the city center.
“And they always use them as get-aways.That’s why this exercise would reduce crime and criminality seriously.”
He urged those still bent on engaging in doing okada business within prohibited areas in the city, to have a re-think, because if they are arrested, their motorcycles would still undergo same process.
On his part, the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola, noted that the overriding interest of the FCTA in the exercise is to guarantee the safety of lives around and property of residents in the Territory.
Adesola, who was represented by Dr. Bello Abdul-lateef, said the enforcement of the ban on okada operations would go a long way in ensuring that criminality is contained especially in the Federal Capital Capital City (FCC).
“A society that is full of criminality, is a society that is not ready to attract investment.
“So, it is not in doubt that at the end of the day, a programme like this with facilitate the security of the FCT, thus it will definitely go a long way in improving the economic wellbeing of the residents,” he stressed.
The commencement of the crushing exercise was witnessed by some top officers and men of the FCT-DRTS, Police, military and other paramilitary agencies in the FCT.
