The Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) FCT says the service resolved to crush impounded motorbikes and tricycles in the FCT because the operators violated traffic regulations.

The service’s spokesman, Kalu Emetu, made this known in an interview on Sunday in Abuja.

He said it had become imperative because the payment of fines or other lesser punishments was no longer yielding the desired result.

Mr Emetu said the ban on using motorcycles, popularly called ‘Okada’, had existed since 2006, even before tricycles started operating in the city centre.

He said that, though only partially banned from the entire FCT, they were only allowed to operate in the area councils and the suburbs within the territory.

“Now, when they come into the city centre, and we impound their bikes, some of them will only laugh at you, meaning that they will still repeat the same thing. 

“Most times, to our surprise, the following day, you will still see the same person whose motorbike or tricycle was impounded the previous day with another one operating in the same place.

“This, I believe, goes to say if you like keep impounding their bikes or even their tricycles, they will keep violating the rules restricting them from operating in the city centre,” he said.

The spokesman said all these behaviours by the operators forced the service and the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s resolve to crush the items when impounded.

“But after a while, we realised that the same people will still come back to the same spot to operate. So, coming up with an option of a stiffer penalty is the way to go,“ he said.

Mr Emetu explained that even before the crushing of the motorcycles, the service would have approached the court to obtain an order of forfeiture, which empowers them to do so.

On August 31, over 400 impounded motorcycles were crushed. The motorcycles were impounded at strategic spots the riders use as their routes for operations.

Abdulateef Bello, director of the FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), said the operation was part of ongoing efforts to take commercial motorcycles and tricycle operators off Abuja roads.

(NAN)