The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has issued a stark warning that unpainted taxis and buses will soon be prohibited from operating on FCT roads. This announcement came during Mr. Wike’s address to the press in Abuja on Monday, where he emphasized the necessity of this action to combat the prevalent “one chance” criminal activity within the city.
The notorious “one chance” phenomenon involves individuals masquerading as taxi drivers who perpetrate robbery, assault, and at times, homicide against unsuspecting passengers. Mr. Wike underscored that although the incidents of “one chance” have reduced, stringent measures are crucial to eradicate this trend from the FCT. He articulated, “We are not going to allow vehicles that are not painted with FCT color and registered by the FCTA to ply commercial in the territory. That way, you know the driver is certified by the FCT and the buses and the taxes were also approved by the FCT. When this is done, you as the passenger will not take the risk of going to enter any vehicle that you don’t even know.”
Furthermore, Mr. Wike disclosed plans to mandate Uber operators to register for operation in Abuja, thereby enabling the government to ascertain the identity of the drivers. Stressing on the necessity of certified and profiled drivers by the security agencies, Mr. Wike remarked, “This is a city; if you don’t have rules, there will be problems.”
Expressing apprehension about the absence of an official terminal for residents to board buses to specific destinations, Mr. Wike outlined his vision to construct at least three terminals in the coming fiscal year. He asserted, “What we are trying to do in the 2024 fiscal year is to at least build three terminals for a start, so that we will know the buses and taxes that will carry people from such terminals. When this is done, nobody will take the risk of going on the road to wait for a taxi. That way, you will be able to reduce crime.”
The decision to ban unpainted taxis and buses, alongside the stringent regulations for vehicle certification and driver profiling, represents a pivotal move by the FCT Administration to address public safety concerns in the capital. As the FCT braces for these transformative changes, the impact on local transport, crime rates, and overall security infrastructure is poised to be substantial.
