FCT launches new taxi scheme

In order to cushion challenges of transportation owing to the recent ban on operations of tricycles and motorcycles, popularly known as ‘Okada’ in the Nigerian Federal Capital City (FCC), FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has released about 21 taxis into Abuja streets.

The Minister, who disclosed this during the flag-off ceremony for the FCTA tricycle palliative taxi scheme for tricycle owners in Abuja, said that the event was significant because of the launch of MTI taxi scheme and presentation of starter packs to beneficiaries of AEA’s carpentry training.

Bello regretted that his Administration met commuter mobility crisis, endemic traffic congestion and inadequate transportation infrastructure”, expressing hope thus: “All that I believe is becoming a thing of the past, more so, with this flag-off today, as well as other measures we have put in place to improve the genre last wellbeing of residents.”

Malam Bello who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Bashir Mai-Borno stated that the FCTA was “careful and diligent” in selecting beneficiaries of the taxis who were also given relevant entrepreneurial and technical training to excel.

Also speaking, the Chairman, FCTA Task Team on Traffic Management, Comrade Ikharo Attah while making his remarks, warned against misuse of the new vehicles, even as he reminded that the cardinal principle in traffic management, according to the FCT Minister, was that “We must all drive according to rules“.

Security Measures
Earlier, the Managing Director, Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA), Arabi Muhammad Tukur, stated that his organisation has put in place necessary measures to ensure security and safety of passengers, even as it profiled 13 out of the 19 trained and gave them funds, under agreed conditions, to acquire the vehicles.

He therefore charged them, mostly members of the Confederation of Tricycle Motor Operators Association in the FCT to be innovative, creative and lead with integrity.

One of the beneficiaries, Sanusi Usman, who is Treasurer, Keke and motorcycles operators in the FCT, expressed delight over the gesture and assured the administration that they will judiciously use the vehicles for the purpose they are meant for.

According to him, it has allayed fears they earlier harboured when their activities were banned by the FCT Administration, not long ago.

It was gathered that the beneficiaries were expected to finally pay a total of about N3.8 million per vehicle, within four years, at about N25,000 monthly.