Taskforce/drivers clash: Painted taxi operators disown planned protest

By Everest Samuel Ikechukwu

Painted Commercial Taxi Drivers’ Association (PAT) has denied involvement in a planned protest by yet-to-be-identified persons, to register their grievance against alleged high-handedness and extortion of transporters by traffic management officials, in Abuja.
Peoples Daily learnt that, the purported protest is being planned for today by some commercial drivers, following their clash with members of the FCT Joint Taskforce on traffic management, which caused serious chaos in Wuse area of the nation’s capital last week.
However, the Association in a statement signed by its President, Shehu Shugaba Yaradua, the drivers distanced themselves from involvement in any protest.
It added that the said protesters are not members of the PAT or any recognisable drivers’ association in the FCT.
The statement reads: “We hereby call on our members that PAT will not participate in the said protest. They should ignore any purported planned protest targeted at causing public disturbances, or cause breach of public Peace.
“The so call planned protest by unidentified persons. They are not
members of our association or any recognized operators.
“We at Painted Abuja Taxi will support government to get rid of miscreants and unpainted taxis popularly known as Kabu Kabu, (because) their operations are not permitted by Law in FCT.
“This will pave way for good environment for painted taxi drivers to operate.
“We are in dialogue with Government to resolve all the challenge being face by painted taxi drivers in FCT.
“We believe at the long run, conducive environments will be created for our members to operate and conduct our business.”