Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has reaffirmed that commercial motorcycles, popularly known as Okada, and tricycles, commonly called Keke Napep, has been banned from operating within Abuja’s city centre
Speaking during his monthly media briefing on Tuesday, Wike said the decision was driven largely by security concerns, stressing that both means of transportation have become a growing threat in the nation’s capital.
According to the minister, he had already approved the measure after it was discussed at a recent FCT Security Council meeting. He noted that beyond causing traffic and environmental nuisance, the activities of Okada and Keke operators now pose serious security challenges.
He said:
“You talked about Keke Napep and Okada, just this morning I signed the approval because we had a security council meeting were we agreed that they don’t just cause a nuisance but for the issue of security, it has become a threat.
“I have told the security people to map out areas where we do not need the Keke Napep and the motorcycles but it would be difficult to ban them in the entire Abuja, particularly.”
Wike clarified that while the restriction would apply to the city centre, implementing a total ban across the entire FCT would not be practical.
The minister also addressed the growing number of beggars and destitute persons in Abuja, saying his administration would continue removing them from the city but would not establish shelters that could encourage more people to migrate into the FCT.
He said:
“We are working that out and just need approval to raise logistics, even destitutes, beggars are all over the place. Each time we take them out they come in again. Some people say why not provide where they would be staying? How would we continue to be doing that, it means we are encouraging people to leave Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, and Kaduna; how can you fund that?”
Follow Us on Facebook – @LadunLiadi; Instagram – @LadunLiadi; Twitter – @LadunLiadi; Youtube – @LadunLiadiTV for updates
Na wa o