The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Sen. Bala Mohammed, raised alarm over the increasing illegal activities of commercial motorcyclists in the FCT, as they constituted a security risk.
Mohammed, who made this point recently, while fielding questions from newsmen, alleged that some of the Okada riders violating the ban on motorcycles in the FCT were security agents.
“Okada ban – this is the area that I’m thoroughly frustrated. But, you will discover that most of the people that are violating the ban are security agents.
“You see the police, the military were using their own officers, not even the young people that are coming for greener pasture and so they encourage them.
“Not only around Nyanya, even at the vicinity of this Villa. Sometimes, as a minister, I go round to see. If you go to Area 1, you see the Okada riders driving with absolute impunity and arrogance.
“You drive them away; they come back because you discover that some of the policemen are using it to go to work; now motorcycles are being used.
“I’m discussing with the new Commissioner of Police, you will see some changes because he has given me his own plan to make sure that no sacred cow is kept; unless we do that, there is no how we will enforce the ban on Okada,” Mohammed stressed.
According to him, the comprehensive ban on the activities of the motorcyclists will cover the 8,000 kilometers of the FCT.
On the misuse of public facilities, including the pedestrian bridges in the FCT, the minister stated the administration would embark on public enlightenment to educate residents on the need to ensure proper use of the facilities.
Mohammed said the administration was planning to employ some volunteers to enforce the law guiding the use of the pedestrian bridges in the FCT.
The minister frowned at the activities of some traders who, he said, had turned the bridges to market places.
He said the Abuja Environmental Protection Agency would continue to arrest those violating the law. (NAN)
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