Traffic Offence: FCTA Arrests Over 50 Dispatch Riders

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has arrested
over 50 dispatch riders for riding against one-way and beating
traffic lights within the nation’s capital.

Director, FCTA Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS),
Wadata Bodinga, disclosed this while briefing reporters shortly
after conducting them round the arrested motorcycles.

Bodinga warned that the conduct and activities of dispatch
riders in the city would no longer be acceptable by the FCTA and
the motoring public.

He revealed that the directorate had received a lot of
complaints about the conduct of some dispatch riders within the
city and: “we have seen it too.

“We are here to display the dispatch riders that we arrested for
either riding against one-way in the city or beating the traffic
lights.

“As you may observe that the number of dispatch riders has
increased within the city, probably because of the COVID-19
pandemic that is ravaging not only Abuja or Nigeria but the whole
world.

“Because of their door-to-door services (dispatch riders) which
can actually ease people that are staying at home to be able to
deliver some of their needs.

“But equally, you can agree with me that there activities and
conduct on the road is no longer acceptable. We have received a lot
of complaints about their conduct and we have seen it too.

“Just between Tuesday and today, Wednesday, over 50 motorcycles
and dispatch riders have been arrested for various offences.

“Because majorly they are the major culprit of this beating of
traffic and riding on one-way in the city which is not acceptable
because they are trading with their own safety and the safety of
other road users,” Bodinga said.

He said that the directorate had directed all the people
arrested for following one-way and those beating traffic to go for
an emotional evaluation at the recognise hospital in the FCT.

The director said that the enforcement was a continuous one,
adding that all the Area Commands are detailed to ensure that
traffic rules and regulations must be respected in the city.

He said: “This is Abuja and even where the traffic lights are
not working our men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force are
there to ensure sanity.

“People should be seen to at least obey the traffic lights in
the territory and sadly, that is not the case when it comes to
these dispatched riders as you can see the results of the
operation”.

Bodinga disclosed that the majority of them did not register
with the authority as dispatch riders.

He said: “Because they are dispatch riders, we expect that these
motorcycles should be owned by cooperating organisations but from
the record we have we realised that most of them are just own by
individuals who just decided to put the box and start
operation.

“And they will bring results first. After they have done that
then we are going to take them to the Mobile Magistrate Court which
had already started sitting.

“After the magistrate session is over then they will equally
come for two weeks compulsory training with a formal letter from
their various companies and organisations.

“Because all the ones that have organisations, we have drafted a
formal letter that we are going to send to their various companies
and organisations informing them of the conduct of their
drivers.

“And there is a need for them to bring even their other drivers
for mandatory training to update them on the traffic rules and
regulations.”

He, however, said the training was free but they would pay for
their various penalties.

Bodinga further said that after the training, the FCTA through
the Transportation Secretariat would issue them Abuja Riders Permit
but it would be limited to only the areas that motorcycle is
allowed to operate.

He added that the riders permit would not allow anybody to ride
a motorcycle in areas prohibited by the FCTA.

On his part, the Chairman FCTA Ministerial Taskforce on Traffic
Management, Comrade Ikharo Attah said dispatch riders who are
allowed to operate in the city are already abusing the
privilege.

Attah said: “They break traffic laws very regularly and it has
become a source of worry to the FCT Minister, Mr. Bodinga and his
men swung into action and clamped down on them.

“We give the directorate pass mark for clamping down on these
violators and some vehicles here are also involved.

“They will be going through tests to ascertain if they are
normal because if something is not wrong with them they must be
wrong with something.”

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has arrested
over 50 dispatch riders for riding against one-way and beating
traffic lights within the nation’s capital.

Director, FCTA Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS),
Wadata Bodinga, disclosed this while briefing reporters shortly
after conducting them round the arrested motorcycles.

Bodinga warned that the conduct and activities of dispatch
riders in the city would no longer be acceptable by the FCTA and
the motoring public.

He revealed that the directorate had received a lot of
complaints about the conduct of some dispatch riders within the
city and: “we have seen it too.

“We are here to display the dispatch riders that we arrested for
either riding against one-way in the city or beating the traffic
lights.

“As you may observe that the number of dispatch riders has
increased within the city, probably because of the COVID-19
pandemic that is ravaging not only Abuja or Nigeria but the whole
world.

“Because of their door-to-door services (dispatch riders) which
can actually ease people that are staying at home to be able to
deliver some of their needs.

“But equally, you can agree with me that there activities and
conduct on the road is no longer acceptable. We have received a lot
of complaints about their conduct and we have seen it too.

“Just between Tuesday and today, Wednesday, over 50 motorcycles
and dispatch riders have been arrested for various offences.

“Because majorly they are the major culprit of this beating of
traffic and riding on one-way in the city which is not acceptable
because they are trading with their own safety and the safety of
other road users,” Bodinga said.

He said that the directorate had directed all the people
arrested for following one-way and those beating traffic to go for
an emotional evaluation at the recognise hospital in the FCT.

The director said that the enforcement was a continuous one,
adding that all the Area Commands are detailed to ensure that
traffic rules and regulations must be respected in the city.

He said: “This is Abuja and even where the traffic lights are
not working our men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force are
there to ensure sanity.

“People should be seen to at least obey the traffic lights in
the territory and sadly, that is not the case when it comes to
these dispatched riders as you can see the results of the
operation”.

Bodinga disclosed that the majority of them did not register
with the authority as dispatch riders.

He said: “Because they are dispatch riders, we expect that these
motorcycles should be owned by cooperating organisations but from
the record we have we realised that most of them are just own by
individuals who just decided to put the box and start
operation.

“And they will bring results first. After they have done that
then we are going to take them to the Mobile Magistrate Court which
had already started sitting.

“After the magistrate session is over then they will equally
come for two weeks compulsory training with a formal letter from
their various companies and organisations.

“Because all the ones that have organisations, we have drafted a
formal letter that we are going to send to their various companies
and organisations informing them of the conduct of their
drivers.

“And there is a need for them to bring even their other drivers
for mandatory training to update them on the traffic rules and
regulations.”

He, however, said the training was free but they would pay for
their various penalties.

Bodinga further said that after the training, the FCTA through
the Transportation Secretariat would issue them Abuja Riders Permit
but it would be limited to only the areas that motorcycle is
allowed to operate.

He added that the riders permit would not allow anybody to ride
a motorcycle in areas prohibited by the FCTA.

On his part, the Chairman FCTA Ministerial Taskforce on Traffic
Management, Comrade Ikharo Attah said dispatch riders who are
allowed to operate in the city are already abusing the
privilege.

Attah said: “They break traffic laws very regularly and it has
become a source of worry to the FCT Minister, Mr. Bodinga and his
men swung into action and clamped down on them.

“We give the directorate pass mark for clamping down on these
violators and some vehicles here are also involved.

“They will be going through tests to ascertain if they are
normal because if something is not wrong with them they must be
wrong with something.”