The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other sister agencies, has commenced a special enforcement operation against traffic light violations, driving against traffic and other road offences across Abuja.

The mandate secretary at the FCTA transportation secretariat, Chinedum Elechi, disclosed this on Thursday during a special joint intervention press conference in Abuja.

Mr Elechi said the task force would begin patrols and arrest perpetrators, and offenders would face the full weight of the law.

“We are extremely happy to have this special collaboration with the Sector Command of the FCT. I think this is the first time that we’re having this kind of collaboration,” he stated.

Mr Elechi noted that the enforcement exercise was driven by increasing disregard for traffic rules by some motorists, particularly following the expansion of the FCT road network under the urban renewal programme of the FCT minister Nyesom Wike.

According to him, the FCTA’s urban renewal programme, which includes expanding existing road networks and constructing new roads, has improved mobility and connectivity but also created new traffic management challenges.

“With some drivers taking advantage of the improved road infrastructure to disregard traffic rules and regulations,” he said.

He said enforcement would also include mandatory medical and psychological evaluations where applicable, in line with the National Road Traffic Regulations 2012 and the FCT Road Traffic Regulations.

“Offenders will have to face the full weight of the law when they engage in the dangerous exercise of driving against traffic or breaking traffic lights,” he noted.

The sector commander of the FRSC in Abuja, Tijjani Iliyasu, said the command was concerned about the rising cases of excessive overloading, traffic light violations, route violations, driving against traffic and indiscriminate parking.

Mr Iliyasu said the offences contributed significantly to traffic congestion, obstructed the free movement of vehicles and endangered the lives and property of road users. He urged motorists to obey traffic lights, road signs and markings, refrain from overloading vehicles, avoid driving against traffic and use only authorised routes.

“Always remember that time saved by risking a life is not worth it,” Mr Iliyasu cautioned.

He assured residents that the command would continue to adopt a coordinated approach involving enforcement, public education, stakeholder engagement, engineering interventions and inter-agency collaboration to improve road safety and traffic management in Abuja.

“Our message is simple: obey traffic regulations, respect other road users, and make safety a personal responsibility,” he added.