Abuja – January 12, 2024 – Viewpoint Housing News.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA)’s Directorate of Road Transport Services (DRTS) has begun a thorough demolition of all unauthorised buildings, stores, and restaurants located inside taxi stands in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Under the direction of Mrs. Deborah Osho, the Head of Operations at DRTS, the planned demolition of Area 3 and Banex Junction Taxi Ranks got underway on Friday. With the assistance of security authorities, the DRTS crew demolished unlicensed businesses that were functioning within the ranks at Area 3 Taxi Rank, including car washes, repair shops, movie theatres, and restaurants. Similar restrictions were implemented at Banex Junction Taxi Rank, a location that was formerly governed by miscreants peddling illegal substances, including diesel and contaminated fuel.
Mrs. Osho made it clear that the goal of these measures was to increase the amount of space available for taxis to operate within the assigned Parks. She noted that this addresses the issue of inadequate space within the taxi parks and attempts to deter the spread of unauthorized taxi parks around the city. The effort further aims to counteract the actions of “one chance” operators who take use of unlawful parks for their own illicit purposes.
Mrs Osho stressed that discussions with transport stakeholders led to the decision to dismantle and clear unlawful buildings, pointing out that certain taxi ranks are now used as criminal hideouts for the sale of dangerous narcotics. She said that the determination to guarantee a more hygienic and organised environment in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was the result of a recent meeting with stakeholders.
“We are ready to clean all taxi ranks in 2024, to make sure that drivers board taxis inside the taxi ranks and not outside,” said Mrs. Osho. Long-term, this will help combat the threat of “one chance” in the city.
In favour of the idea, Dr. Peter Olumuji, Secretary of the Command and Control Centre at the Department of Security Service, FCTA, emphasised the link between guarded taxi stands and a decrease in “one chance” situations. He emphasised the need for more staff and vehicles for ongoing operations and expressed trust in Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, to give the necessary funding to keep the nation’s capital peaceful and orderly.
