The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration is set to introduce fresh measures aimed at regulating the activities of commercial motorcycle riders and tricycle operators across Abuja, citing growing security concerns and public disorder.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike announced the decision during the August edition of his monthly media briefing held on Tuesday in Abuja, explaining that authorities have finalized plans to restructure where the operators can legally work.
Security Concerns Drive New Restrictions
According to Wike, commercial motorcycles, commonly known as Okada, and tricycles, popularly called Keke Napep, have increasingly become a security challenge in the nation’s capital.
He said the FCT Security Council recently reviewed the situation and agreed that stronger action was necessary to curb the risks associated with their activities.
The minister revealed that he had already approved the implementation of the new strategy, emphasizing that the objective is not to impose a blanket ban across the territory but to regulate their presence in specific areas.
Operators to Be Confined to Designated Locations
Wike explained that security agencies have been instructed to identify and map out locations where motorcycles and tricycles can continue operating without disrupting public order or posing security threats.
He maintained that the city centre would remain off-limits to both categories of operators, noting that existing regulations already prohibit their activities within the Abuja Central Area.
Describing their activities as a persistent nuisance, the minister insisted that the administration would continue enforcing the law to ensure the capital maintains order and safety.
Total Ban Considered Impractical
While reaffirming the government’s commitment to restoring order, Wike acknowledged that eliminating commercial motorcycles and tricycles from every part of the FCT would not be realistic.
Instead, he said the administration intends to adopt a balanced approach that allows them to operate only in approved locations while keeping high-security and heavily populated areas free from their activities.
Crackdown on Beggars and Street Dwellers Continues
Beyond transportation issues, the minister also addressed the increasing number of beggars and destitute individuals on Abuja’s streets.
He said the FCT Administration is working on another operation to remove them from public spaces, noting that previous exercises have had only temporary results because many eventually return.
Government Rules Out Permanent Shelters
Wike argued that establishing permanent accommodation for displaced beggars and destitute persons is not a sustainable solution for the FCT Administration.
He explained that providing such facilities could encourage more people from neighbouring states, including Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger and Kaduna, to relocate to Abuja in search of government support.
According to him, the administration is currently awaiting approval to secure the logistics required for another clearance exercise, stressing that the government cannot continue funding shelters that may attract a larger influx of people into the capital.
