Abuja: The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has reaffirmed its authority to enforce traffic regulations within the capital, issuing a stern warning to traffic offenders and touts about impending consequences. The Mandate Secretary of the FCTA Transportation Secretariat, Mr. Chinedum Elechi, made this announcement during a news conference, clarifying that the administration’s power to impound vehicles and penalize traffic offenders remains undiminished.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Elechi addressed misconceptions arising from a recent court judgment that some believed had stripped the Department of Road Transport Services (DRTS) of its enforcement powers. He clarified that while the court evaluated DRTS as a single department without a specific enabling statute, the broader enforcement mandate lies with the FCTA, under the leadership of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
Elechi emphasized the integrated, multi-agency approach to traffic management in Abuja, highlighting the collaboration between DRTS, the FCT Security Department, the Nigeria Police Force, and other security agencies. He warned motorists not to exploit legal misconceptions to flout traffic laws, stating that the FCTA would pursue violators rigorously.
The administration has declared a comprehensive crackdown on touts, unregistered transport operators, and illegal motor parks, marking the end of lenient enforcement. Elechi announced plans to use mobile courts to prosecute offenders and enforce penalties, including impounding and potentially crushing vehicles as mandated by judicial verdicts.
He further dispelled claims that some transport groups operating in major corridors were officially recognized, emphasizing that even ‘organized’ groups lacked valid operational licenses. Elechi highlighted the development of formal bus terminals and warned against converting unauthorized locations into illegal loading points.
Citing previous enforcement efforts, Elechi revealed that over 100 vehicles had been impounded but were released on compassionate grounds. However, he warned that such leniency would not be extended in future enforcement actions. The mandate secretary backed the enforcement drive with legal instruments, referencing the Federal Capital Territory Establishment Law Dissolution Order No. 1 of 2004 and the FCT Road Transport Regulations 2023.
Elechi concluded by affirming the transportation secretariat’s commitment to restoring order in Abuja’s transportation network, strictly adhering to the law and ensuring the capital remains clean, secure, and functional.