PARIS OLYMPIC GAMES
As the January 2025 deadline expires,
cab drivers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) seem to be disregarding a directive from FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, directing them to repaint their vehicles in the official green color and undergo police profiling by January 2025.
This directive aimed to boost security in Abuja by preventing crimes like kidnapping and “one-chance” cab robberies, which some transport operators have been linked to.
As part of the new regulations, all commercial vehicles must display the approved Abuja colour scheme, and drivers will undergo security profiling to ensure the city remains safe for residents and visitors.
Persecondnews recalls that the minister, on October 31, 2024, while unveiling the FCT Renewed Hope Youth Empowerment Programme, had threatened that by January 2025, cab drivers not profiled by the FCT command and unpainted cabs will not be allowed to operate in Abuja.
The minister distributed 80 vehicles to youths at the event comprising 30 Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), 30 7-seater Suzuki Minibuses, and 20 14-seater Hiace buses, that will be used as a pilot transportation scheme in Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape before extendng to other areas.
Notably, the brand-new vehicles, painted in FCT colours, were given to the first set of beneficiaries free of charge, on the condition that they charge lower transport fares.
In an interview with Persecondnews, some cab operators expressed skepticism about the likelihood of the directive being enforced, citing a history of unimplemented policies by the ministry.
One driver, CJ, shared his frustrating experience with previous directives, recalling how he had spent his own money to purchase a fire extinguisher and a dustbin, only to see others ignore the rules without consequence.
CJ felt that his efforts to comply had been in vain, leaving him feeling foolish for wasting his money.
He said: “Seriously, this is not a laughing matter. Do you know how much I spent to get this fire extinguisher? But at the end of the day, most of our members did not buy their own. Even the then-Minister who gave the directive did not follow it up.
“After that experience, you want me to rush and paint my car again, making myself the joke around here? No, I will wait for them to paint first, then I will join them.”
Osakwe, another cab driver, expressed frustration with the constant directives aimed at curbing “one-chance” robbery, arguing that they unfairly target commercial drivers.
He pointed out that most perpetrators of these crimes use private vehicles to lure victims, rather than registered cabs.
To effectively address the issue, Osakwe suggested that the government should prohibit private individuals from picking up passengers along roads, as this would help to check the crime.
He said: “To me, I see this issue as an unnecessary disturbance to us. All of us know that the criminals involved in this illicit trade are not cab drivers, but people with private cars moving to and fro along major routes, looking for their victims.
“Anyway, we know the matter will die down soon. This is not the first time this issue has come up.”
But another driver, who preferred concealed identity, commended the government’s initiative, acknowledging that the “one-chance” robbery menace has reached alarming levels.
He appealed to the government to provide support to cab drivers, proposing two possible solutions to ease the financial burden of complying with the new regulations.
He suggested that the government could supply the paint and have drivers cover the labour costs or alternatively, drivers could purchase the paint themselves and have it applied at a designated location free of charge.
The driver noted that the profiling requirement would be relatively easier to fulfill, as it doesn’t involve significant expenses, unlike the vehicle repainting.
He said: “Once the government assists us with the painting issue, the directive to be profiled by the FCT Police Command will not be a problem, because it’s not capital-intensive.
“All you have to do is drive to the command and have them collect your biometric data.”
Reacting to the Minister’s statement on Thursday, the Director of Enforcement for Painted Abuja Taxi, Mr. Oladipupo Ebijuni, described the initiative as commendable.
Oladipupo is of the opinion that the government should ensure uniform implementation, adding that Uber and Bolt drivers should also paint their cars.
He pointed out that one of the reasons some drivers refuse to paint their cars is the discrimination they face on a daily basis.
Oladipupo noted that while the Uber and Bolts drivers are allowed to carry passengers inside ministries, hotels and estates, taxi drivers are forced to drop their passengers at the gate.
He warned that if the task force is authorized to start impounding unpainted cars, they might exploit the situation as a means of generating revenue.
He, however, assured that the issue of ‘one chance’ operators can be effectively addressed if the government collaborates with the unions.
Speaking on the directive that drivers should go to the FCT police command to be profiled, Oladipupo said it may not be feasible.
Instead, he directed the police to work with the already established transport unions.
The unions will submit their members’ data, which is stored in their database, to the police and the transporters’ secretariat.
He added: “If the police are looking for a plate number or a criminal, they will check all the databases submitted to them.
“If they find the plate number in any of the databases, they will contact the chairman of the relevant union to assist in apprehending the individual.
“If the person is at large, their next of kin may be detained. We have had meetings with the FCDA and the Abuja Police Command.
“They instructed us to advise our members to continue doing the right thing by reporting and alerting them if they suspect any driver who doesn’t belong to our union.
“Also, once you paint your car, you will definitely need to change your plate number from a private plate number, which is written in blue, to a commercial plate number, which is written in red.
“We are appealing to the federal government to reduce the cost of the plate number for us, as they have the authority to determine how much the VIO can collect from us.”
Expressing gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the CNG buses donated to three transport unions, he pleaded with the government to find a way to assist drivers with rickety buses in getting new ones
He described the FCT minister as a good man, who is trying his best to give Abuja a new look, pointing out that many places that nobody believed would open up are being opened up due to the accessibility provided through good roads.
Persecondnews correspondent also visited the FCT Police Command to monitor drivers’ compliance with the profiling order.
The command’s Assistant Spokesperson, ASP Patrick Kator, said the drivers are yet to comply with the directive.
He, however, assured Persecondnews that the command is currently in talks with the Minister of FCT regarding his directives to profile commercial drivers in Abuja and enforce the FCT’s green cab colour scheme.
On the expiration of the deadline on January 31, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said the only thing stopping the enforcement of the directive is the construction of three bus terminals the Minister is building.
The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media to the Minister of the FCT, Mr. Lere Olayinka, made the disclosure in an interview with Persecondnews.
He said: “The three bus terminals are being built presently.
“The implementation of that directive will be based on the completion of those bus terminals, because you cannot ask people to paint their cars, be profiled by the police, and not pick passengers on the road when you don’t have a specific place for them to park.
“You cannot effectively enforce such a directive when you do not have a specific place where vehicles can park and pick passengers.
“The moment those three bus terminals and the others the minister will build are ready, the enforcement of the directive will start. Some of the terminals are 50% and 80% ready.”
Some Abuja residents are calling for an increase in the number of CNG buses, expressing concerns about the current fleet provided by the President.
They argue that the insufficient number of buses forces passengers to scramble for space, creating chaotic scenes at bus stops.
Mrs. Gladys Nfom, a commuter, shared her frustrating experience, stating that while she was initially excited about the bus launch, she soon realized that she had to compete with younger and more energetic passengers to secure a spot on the bus every morning.
She said: “As I have grown older, I have become more mindful of my activities. I’m no longer as spry as I used to be, and I certainly don’t relish the idea of jostling with younger folks for a spot on a crowded bus.
“One wrong move, and I’d be nursing a broken bone! So, I have learned to prioritize my safety and dignity. I simply hail a taxi and ride in comfort.
“I firmly believe that if the government were to deploy more buses, the chaos and congestion at bus stops would greatly subside.
“The pushing and shoving would be a thing of the past, and commuters could enjoy a more orderly and stress-free travel experience.”
Nfom’s sentiment is shared by most people as Abuja indigenes are pleading with the President to release more CNG buses to help alleviate the high cost of transportation in the FCT.
Persecondnews recalls that the government had in November 2024, handed over 15 CNG-powered buses to three major transport unions in Abuja: the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN).
The buses began operating on December 2, 2024, along major routes, connecting suburban areas like Mararaba to central hubs such as Eagles Square and the Berger bus stop.
The free bus service only ran for 40 days, terminating on January 6, 2025.
Commuters have already expressed gratitude for the government’s initiative, with some hoping that the service will continue beyond the initial period.
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