The Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), Federal Capital Territory Administration, has impounded 20 vehicles for operating commercial taxi services within the capital city without permission.

The directorate’s head of operations, Deborah Osho, said in Abuja on Friday that the vehicles were impounded during routine operations to rid the city of illegal taxi operators and taxi parks across the city centre.

She added that the vehicles were impounded around Apo Bridge at Area 3, Garki, and the Federal Secretariat in Central Area while operating illegal taxi parks.

Ms Osho explained that some impounded vehicles posed security threats, while others were not roadworthy.

She said the vehicle owners would be arraigned before a mobile court, adding that DRTS would also obtain a court order to crush non-roadworthy vehicles that could not be repaired.

 The head of operations said owners of roadworthy vehicles would pay a huge amount of money as a fine before they would be released.

“It’s not that these guys don’t have a place to go; they can enter Eagle Square and pick up their passengers there.

“But they have chosen to do illegal parks or to park their vehicles illegally on this route to pick up passengers.

“Not only that, some of the vehicles we have witnessed are just not roadworthy, yet they are all piling up in the city centre and defacing the city,” she said.

Peter Olumuji, secretary of the Command and Control Centre, Department of Security Services, FCTA, said the operation targeted illegal parking lots and unpainted taxis operating in the city.

Mr Olumuji explained that while the FCT Administration was aware of the economic and transportation challenges, it was important to ensure the safety and security of residents.

“When you allow such to persist, then those who have criminal intentions will capitalise on it to perpetuate crime.

“Yes, the economy is hard, but that does not mean that security and safety issues will not be tackled accordingly,” he said. 

(NAN)