FCTA proposes New Gridlock Management System

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has proposed a new system for making the free flow of traffic within the city. The Director, Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) popularly known as VIO, Dr Abdullateef Bello said under the new arrangement motorists will only be allowed to pick up and drop passengers in designated parks.

He said the administration would come down hard on drivers that operate in illegal parks, especially on the road corridors.

Bello disclosed this when he led an enforcement exercise to strategic places in Abuja on Wednesday, where 20 vehicles and 5 tricycles were impounded.

According to him, the administration will ensure that motorists constituting nuisances on the road corridors are relocated to strategic motor Parks.

He, however, hinted that any driver caught violating the rules will be arrested, prosecuted and charged to pay for compulsory training.

He said, “There is a need for drivers to constitute the culture whereby all passengers will go to the park and enter vehicles to their various destinations.

“We don’t want drivers to operate on the road corridors, is an infraction, if the original motor Park has taken enough vehicles more than the required numbers, you can look for another one.

“It is not compulsory that all motorists should stay in one motor Park, we cannot be allowed you to be picking and dropping passengers on the road, causing logjam. There are other road users that your action is affecting”.

The Director added that after the Sallah celebration, there will be comprehensive enforcement across the city. “After Sallah celebration, we will start a comprehensive enforcement, any vehicle that will be found on the road carrying passenger will go for training, those that feel like returning to the park will be asked to pay for it, the offender will pay for one year”

Also Speaking, the Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to FCT Minister, Comrade Ikharo Attah said enforcement of traffic rules in the city will be straightened, he also stressed the need to make the public transport system more results-oriented. 

Attah, while acknowledging that mobilising both human and material resources for enforcement was costly and took its toll on government, also reiterated that enforcement was essential to maintaining a sane society. 

According to him, FCT Administration was determined to build a world-class city, therefore will remain committed to sanitising the city, as well as providing residents with befitting services. 

Attah noted, “We are growing a city, we may not have reached where other developing countries of the world are, but we are doing very well.

“The Mass Transit buses need to be heavily strengthened,  even new ones need to be brought in. All these are in the process, so I believe that enforcement is key.”