FCT Police issue 3-day ultimatum to okada, keke operators to vacate city centre

THE Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Police Command has again issued a three-day ultimatum to commercial motorcycle and tricycle riders to vacate the City centre, saying the standing ban of operating within the city remain sacrosanct.

The FCT Commissioner of Police who is also the Chairman, Ministerial Joint Task Force (MJTF), Mr Bala Ciroma, gave this ultimatum during a meeting with the leadership of the National Tricycle and Motorcycle Owner and Riders Association (NATOMORAS) and the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN) in his office in Abuja.

Mr Ciroma, who warned them to quickly comply with the directive, further warned them to stick their operations within the satellite towns as earlier spelt out by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

He enlightened them to see beyond the commercial benefits of their own businesses but rather contribute their own quota in making the nation’s capital a worthy of emulation.

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According to him, the aim of this meeting is for us to give ourselves another ample opportunity to listen to each other and advice us on how to cooperate with each other. As the head of this operation, I would like us to stick to those areas earlier designated for your operations. This has, however, become necessary because we are beginning to witness some of your members flaunt the law.

The CP stressed that the MJTF would, after the ultimatum, make any defaulter face the full wrath of the law.

Also speaking, the Director of FCT Directorate of Road Traffic, Mr Wadata Bodinga, stated that his office, on the call of duty, has perfected moves to ensure that the city centres were rid off all illegal commercial vehicle operations.

Mr Bodinga, however, appealed to the unions to abide by the rules as the government has adopted dialogue as the only means of working relationship with the unions instead of cat and dog race.

In his response, the Chairman, FCT Chapter of NATOMORAS, Alhaji Musa Ibrahim, assured the committee of full co-operation.

He, therefore, promised to abide by all policies, especially the ones guiding the operations of tricycles and motorcycles within the FCT, noting that those operating were not their members.

The Chairman then promised to take the message home and educate its members of the need to abide by authorised routes.