FCTA moves to ban ‘Okada’

Like Lagos State, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has disclosed that commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as ‘okada’, will stop operating in the FCT in the next two months.

FCTA said those using okada for dispatch activities will need to obtain a licence to operate within the city and its suburbs.

This was disclosed by the Director of the Directorate of Road Transport Services (DRTS), FCTA, Mr Bello Abdullateef, during a media briefing organized by the Presidential Communication team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday.

According to Abdullateef, the regulation of okada as a means of transportation in the FCT has been a major obstacle.

He said: “The regulation of Okada in the FCT has been a major obstacle and a very difficult issue because the effect of Okada in the FCT is multifaceted.

“It’s not just traffic violation, it’s facilitating criminal activities in the FCT. It’s equally alleged that Okada is used as a means of delivering drug trafficking in the FCT as well.

“It’s been also established that some of the Okada riders are non-Nigerians. So if you look at these multifaceted issues, I think it requires a multisectoral approach to deal with the menace of Okada in the FCT.

“However, we have introduced some regulatory mechanisms to deal with the menace.

“We are introducing riders certification for those who are using okada for dispatch activities.

“Until you are certified by the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), it will be impossible in the next two months for you to use or ride motorcycle in the FCT.

“Again we are scaling up the type of motorcycle that can be used in the FCT. If it’s not above 200CC, which has the requisite trend to withstand the use on the highway, definitely you will not be allowed to use that.

“We are also remodeling the licensing and certification as well. These are some of the new regulations that in the next few months, we will be carrying out in the FCT to dissuade the use of Okada.

“However in some quarters, the issue of total ban has been suggested, and why I think it’s something for the administration to think about is that some of the states close to FCT are already banning.

“So if we don’t put it in our front burner to consider whether to review the use of Okada in FCT, invariably in the next three years, FCT will be a dumping ground and the management of Okada will be overwhelming.”

Persecondnews recalls that the ban on Okada in six local governments and nine LCAs in Lagos State by Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, took effect on June 1, 2022.

The governor directed security operatives to enforce the proscription order across the councils: Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Surulere, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, and Apapa.

The ban came few days after some commercial motorcyclists lynched a sound engineer, David Imoh, in the Lekki area of the state.