By Sarah NEGEDU
The Federal Capital Territory Administration has begun enforcing the relocation of commercial vehicles from illegal roadside motor parks to the newly inaugurated Mabushi Bus and Taxi Terminal, impounding 40 vehicles for violating the directive.
The enforcement exercise, carried out on Friday, by the FCTA City Sanitation Enforcement Taskforce in the Utako area of Abuja, also led to the arrest of some persons for allegedly obstructing officials during the operation.
Secretary, Command and Control Centre of the FCTA Security Services Department, Dr Peter Olumuji, said the impounded vehicles were seized between Wednesday and Friday as the administration stepped up efforts to ensure full compliance with the relocation order issued by the FCT Transport Secretariat.
Recall that the Transport Secretariat had, after announcing the commencement of operations at the Mabushi Bus and Taxi Terminal on June 21, directed operators of all ad-hoc motor parks in Utako, Banex and other illegal loading points to relocate to the facility on or before June 24.
Olumuji said the affected vehicles were operating outside the designated terminal in defiance of the directive and would be prosecuted in line with the extant traffic regulations of the FCT.
He added that some individuals were taken into police custody for obstructing officials carrying out the lawful enforcement exercise.
According to him, the operation is aimed at ensuring that commercial vehicles operate only from approved terminals to improve safety and orderliness within the nation’s capital.
“The security benefit of the bus terminal is that whenever you board a vehicle, you are boarding a vehicle that is registered and you know the person driving it.
“The enforcement exercise will continue until 100 per cent compliance is achieved,” he said.
An official of the FCT Transport Secretariat, Mr Usman Abdulmuminu, said the administration had given operators ample notice before commencing enforcement.
According to him, several notices were issued to commercial vehicle operators, while radio and television jingles were aired to sensitise both transporters and commuters on the relocation to the Mabushi terminal.
“Beyond the operators, the enforcement was also to enlighten residents that the bus terminal had opened for business,” he said.
Also speaking, the Transport Planning Director of Planet Projects, operators of the terminal, Demola Olawepo, said the facility was designed to accommodate about 250 commercial vehicles under an active flow-through system.
He urged transport operators yet to relocate to take advantage of the organised, secure and modern facilities provided at the terminal to offer commuters a safer travel experience.
General Manager, Operations, Mr Kolawale Babatunde, said operations at the terminal commenced on July 1 and had already processed about 130 vehicles and over 800 passengers.
“So far, we’ve been having a seamless operation because it’s a new and a different experience for passengers. It’s a world-class bus terminal with all the facilities and runs just like an airport.
“The major benefit of the terminal is passengers’ safety because all the operators in the terminal are duly registered and licensed by the government.
“We can trace everybody operating in the terminal. Unlike vehicles operating on the roadside, we have all the data of the operators, the vehicle, and their registration numbers,” he said.
A commercial driver, Mr Abdulsalami Dada, described the terminal as an improvement over roadside operations.
“We are enjoying the services, and everything is working well, better than operating on the roadside,” he said.
A passenger travelling to Kaduna, Ms Chioma Okoro, also praised the facility, describing the services as orderly and professional.
“I like the facilities and services. The officials are attending to customers with professionalism and everything. So, it’s okay, it’s nice. This is good,” she said.
Another commuter, Mr Adamu Emmanuel, said he completed his ticketing process in less than two minutes, describing the experience as faster and more organised than boarding vehicles from the roadside.
“This is quite different from what we get on the roadside and I really appreciate this. I processed my ticket in less than two minutes.
“I actually paid with my card and immediately I made payment, my details were put down and then I was attended to,” he said.
