The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other relevant agencies, has launched a fresh crackdown on motorists violating traffic regulations across Abuja.
The special joint enforcement operation is targeting motorists who drive against traffic, disobey traffic lights, use unauthorised routes, park indiscriminately and commit other offences capable of causing congestion and endangering road users.
The Mandate Secretary, FCTA Transportation Secretariat, Mr Chinedum Elechi, announced the commencement of the exercise on Thursday in Abuja during a press conference on the special joint intervention patrol.
Elechi warned that motorists caught violating traffic regulations would face the full weight of the law.
He said the enforcement had become necessary because of the growing disregard for traffic rules by some motorists, particularly following the expansion of the FCT road network under the urban renewal programme of FCT Minister, Barr Nyesom Wike.
According to him, the improved road infrastructure has enhanced movement and connectivity across the capital but has also presented new traffic management challenges.
“We are extremely happy to have this special collaboration with the Sector Command of the FCT. I think this is the first time that we’re having this kind of collaboration,” Elechi said.
He said the joint operation involving the FCTA Security Department, Traffic Control Department, FRSC and other agencies would help restore sanity to Abuja’s roads.
Elechi listed traffic light violations, disregard for road signs and other traffic control devices, route violations, driving against traffic and illegal parking among the major offences targeted by the operation.
He said illegal parking on major roads, junctions, under bridges and pedestrian crossings would also attract sanctions.
The FCTA official urged motorists and commercial transport operators to obey traffic rules, use designated routes and park only in approved areas.
He disclosed that the enforcement would be sustained across the Federal Capital Territory, adding that arrested offenders would face appropriate sanctions under relevant national and FCT traffic regulations.
Elechi also said some offenders would be subjected to mandatory medical and psychological evaluation where applicable.
“Offenders will have to face the full weight of the law when they involve in the dangerous exercise of driving against traffic or breaking traffic lights,” he warned.
He stressed that the operation was not designed to harass law-abiding motorists but to improve road safety, ease traffic congestion and protect lives and property.
FRSC: Dangerous Drivers To Face Evaluation
The FCT Sector Commander of the FRSC, Corps Commander Tijjani Iliyasu, said the agency was worried by the increasing cases of overloading, traffic light violations, route violations, driving against traffic and indiscriminate parking.
Iliyasu said such offences were contributing significantly to traffic congestion and obstructing the free movement of vehicles, while putting the lives and property of road users at risk.
He said sustained enforcement, public enlightenment and stronger collaboration among relevant agencies were necessary to tackle the problem.
The FRSC commander disclosed that offenders apprehended for applicable offences, particularly excessive overloading, traffic light violations and route violations, including driving against traffic, would undergo prescribed medical and psychological evaluation before prosecution.
He cited Regulation 176, Sub-regulation 5 of the amended National Road Traffic Regulation 2012, which, according to him, requires persons suspected of committing applicable offences to undergo medical and psychological evaluation at an approved government hospital before prosecution at their own expense.
Iliyasu said the measure was aimed at addressing dangerous driving behaviour and promoting responsible road use, rather than intimidating members of the public.
He urged motorists to obey traffic lights, road signs and markings, avoid overloading and stop driving against traffic.
He also advised road users to use designated motor parks, bus stops and approved loading and dropping points instead of obstructing traffic through indiscriminate parking.
“Always remember that time saved by risking a life is not worth it,” he cautioned.
Iliyasu assured residents that the FRSC would continue to combine enforcement with public education, stakeholder engagement, engineering interventions and inter-agency cooperation to improve road safety in Abuja.
“Our message is simple: obey traffic regulations, respect other road users, and make safety a personal responsibility,” he said.
Security Agencies Join Crackdown
The Secretary, FCTA Command and Control, Dr Peter Olumuji, who represented the Director of the FCTA Security Services Department, Adamu Gwary, said the enforcement of traffic regulations was also critical to security in the nation’s capital.
Olumuji said violations by some commercial transport operators and other road users could create security challenges, particularly through the use of unauthorised routes and loading points.
He confirmed that the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services and other relevant security agencies would support the operation to ensure enforcement was carried out within the law.
“From the security perspective, we also understand that it has its own negative implications when people violate traffic regulations,” Olumuji said.
He expressed concern over the activities of some tricycle and motorcycle operators who allegedly use unauthorised routes and loading points.
According to him, traffic violations are also connected to security concerns in the FCT, including “one chance” robbery and other violent crimes.
Olumuji stressed that an efficient transportation system was essential for effective security in any city.
He assured residents that security agencies were fully prepared to back the FCTA and other enforcement bodies throughout the operation.
The joint crackdown is expected to continue at strategic locations across Abuja as the authorities intensify efforts to reduce traffic offences, ease congestion, improve road safety and protect lives and property.
