FCTA, FRSC Begin Crackdown On Traffic Violations In Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Administration, in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps and other relevant agencies, has commenced a sustained enforcement operation against traffic violations across Abuja.
The exercise targets motorists who disobey traffic lights, drive against traffic, use unauthorised routes, park illegally and commit other offences capable of disrupting traffic flow and endangering road users.
The Mandate Secretary of the FCTA Transportation Secretariat, Chinedum Elechi, disclosed this on Thursday at a joint intervention press conference in Abuja.
Elechi said a special task force had been constituted to patrol strategic locations, apprehend offenders and ensure that those found culpable faced appropriate sanctions under existing national and FCT traffic regulations.
According to him, the enforcement became necessary following increasing disregard for traffic regulations, particularly amid the expansion of the FCT road network under the administration’s urban renewal programme.
He noted that while the expansion and construction of new roads had improved mobility and connectivity across the territory, some motorists had taken advantage of the improved infrastructure to flout traffic rules.
The offences being targeted include traffic light violations, route violations, driving against traffic, illegal parking on major roads and junctions, parking under bridges and on pedestrian crossings.
Elechi urged motorists and commercial transport operators to obey traffic regulations, use designated routes and park only in approved areas.
He stressed that the exercise was not intended to harass law-abiding motorists but to promote safer roads, improve traffic flow and protect lives and property.
Also speaking, the FCT Sector Commander of the FRSC, Corps Commander Tijjani Iliyasu, expressed concern over increasing cases of excessive overloading, traffic light violations, route violations, driving against traffic and indiscriminate parking.
Iliyasu said the offences contributed significantly to traffic congestion, obstructed vehicular movement and exposed road users to danger.
He disclosed that offenders apprehended for applicable offences, particularly excessive overloading, traffic light violations and route violations, would henceforth undergo prescribed medical and psychological evaluation before prosecution, where applicable.
According to him, Regulation 176, Sub-regulation 5 of the amended National Road Traffic Regulation 2012 provides for medical and psychological evaluation of persons suspected of committing certain offences at an approved government hospital before prosecution, at the offender’s expense.
The FRSC commander said the measure was aimed at addressing dangerous driving behaviour and encouraging responsible road use.
He urged motorists to obey traffic lights, road signs and markings, avoid overloading and driving against traffic, and use only authorised routes.
He also advised road users to avoid indiscriminate parking and activities that obstruct traffic, urging them to use designated motor parks, bus stops and approved loading and dropping points.
Iliyasu assured residents that the FRSC would continue to combine enforcement with public enlightenment, stakeholder engagement, engineering interventions and inter-agency collaboration to improve road safety and traffic management in the FCT.
The joint enforcement operation is expected to continue across strategic locations in Abuja as authorities intensify efforts to reduce traffic violations, ease congestion and safeguard the lives and property of road users.
