Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has pledged the commitment of the FCT Administration to end harassment of motorists by touts in the name of revenue collection.

Mr Wike gave the assurance in Abuja on Thursday during the ministerial sectoral briefing on President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s performance in the last year.

“One of the things in a city is that everybody wants to survive. So, you find some of these elements from time to time,” he said.

“But bear in mind that it is part of our responsibility. We will rid them off, but it cannot be done immediately.” the minister added.

He said the FCT Administration had agreed with all the area council chairs to empower the FCT Internal Revenue Service to collect all revenues.

The minister explained that after the collection, the area councils would be given their share, stressing “that is the only way we can have decency in revenue collection in the territory.

“That way, we will reduce touting, harassment and double taxation. After all, the law allows the area councils to take 10 per cent of FCT IGR,” he said.

Motorists in the FCT were being harassed by touts who claimed to be working for a ministerial task force against illegal parking. Others claimed to be revenue collectors from AMAC.

The touts usually force themselves into private vehicles and forcefully remove the car keys from the ignition in the name of illegal parking or other purported infractions.

(NAN)