The Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has announced the suspension of dispatch rider registrations due to widespread non-compliance with traffic rules and regulations.
Mr. Kalu Emetu, the Head of Public Relations and Enlightenment at DRTS, revealed this decision in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. According to Emetu, despite numerous engagements with riders to emphasize the importance of obeying traffic regulations, their non-compliance persisted.
Emetu stated that out of the 2,500 dispatch riders cleared to operate in the FCT, efforts to regulate their activities through the Public Transport Mass Scheme have yielded minimal results. He attributed the challenges to the operators’ disregard for traffic laws, including riding against traffic, speeding, and reckless maneuvers.
In response to the worrisome behavior of dispatch riders, DRTS has ceased further registration to address their activities decisively. Some riders have been arrested, and their motorcycles impounded at the Wuye office of the service. However, this has not deterred others from engaging in reckless conduct on the roads.
To curb the menace, DRTS is considering restricting dispatch riders to specific routes, particularly within the city center. Emetu proposed that riders residing in Gwagwalada would only be permitted to operate between Lugbe and Gwagwalada, while those in Kubwa would be restricted to traveling between Zuba and the city center.
Emetu expressed confidence that these new measures would effectively address the disruptive activities of dispatch riders, particularly within the city center. NAN
