Abuja begins operation to end traffic gridlock

Worried over recurrent traffic challenges in the Nigerian Federal Capital, Abuja, the federal capital Territory Administration, FCTA, said it had initiated a special operation to end the menace.

The FCTA Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) said it commenced the special operation with the collaboration of other agencies and intensive security coverage provided by the Command and Control Centre.

This disclosure was made by the Director, FCTA Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), Dr. Abdulateef Bello, at the commencement of the operation.

The Special operation entails the posting of a Special enforcement squad, comprising several personnel from different security agencies, to strategic areas, during the peak hours, to prevent the pick and drop off passengers by motorists.

The Operations that commenced at the popular Area Bridge, would also be extended to other strategic locations in Abuja, according to DRTS.

The Director, while assuring that more motor parks would be created when the need arises, also called on motorists and residents to be law-abiding and respect extant traffic rules.

Bello who blamed the troubling traffic challenges in Abuja on the growing population, also noted Vehicle Inspection Officers have been trained to ease residents’ traffic stress.

Bello said,” FCT is a work in progress, as the city evolves, parks are equally developed. For the time being, the population is already increasing. It is not about the size of the parks, but coordination. What we are doing is to realign the commercial buses and taxis back to existence. As you can see, the Area one roundabout is now free and we will continue until we establish what we want.’’

Also speaking, the Secretary of FCTA Command and Control Unit, Peter Olumuji said that traffic management was very important to the Administration, and therefore provides adequate security for DRTS officers who enforce traffic rules.

Olumuji noted that the Centre had to get involved by providing security cover, to avoid any of the traffic officers being attacked or molested by motorists.

According to him, FCT Minister was not happy that traffic officers on lawful duties, were sometimes attacked by lawless individuals.

Traffic congestions are major features of many capital cities in the world. Lagos, New York, London, Paris, Istanbul, Bogota are some of the cities affected by traffic gridlocks.

Olusola Akintonde and Qasim Akinreti