The Federal Capital Territory Administration, on Tuesday, crushed no fewer than 601 motorcycles impounded for violating traffic regulations in Abuja.
According to the FCT, the development reinforced its ongoing campaign against the use of commercial motorcycles popularly known as okadas within prohibited areas of the city.
Speaking at the crushing exercise, Mandate Secretary for Transport, Elechi Chinedum said the action was backed by existing laws and aimed at enhancing both security and traffic order in the capital.
“We are acting under the regulation of the FCT. “This law, signed on January 1, 2023, under the former minister Mohammed Bello, bans the use of motorcycles in designated parts of the city. What we’re doing here is simply enforcing the law.”
Chinedum noted that the FCTA was also increasingly concerned about the security implications of commercial motorcycle operations.
He said, “These motorcycles are now being used more frequently in crimes—armed robbery, kidnapping, and other forms of criminality.”
We are not targeting law-abiding citizens.
So what we do is we’ll continue to put more men on the street. If you have a motorcycle in your house, we’re not coming after you. But don’t bring it into the prohibited area. If you bring it in, we will get hold of it. If we get hold of it, we will crush it. What we’re doing is to enforce the law. The law is there and if they are not tired of breaking the law, definitely we will not be tired of enforcing it.”
The Director of the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, Abdulateef Bello, noted that the ban on Okada in the city centre dates back to 2006, but enforcement has intensified due to growing security threats.
“This routine exercise supports the standing ban. We are sending a strong message to those who still invest in this line of business: it’s not worth the risk.
“Criminals are increasingly using motorcycles to evade law enforcement, commit robberies, and kidnap citizens,” Bello said.
The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Operations, FCT Command, Mode Magawata, backed the exercise, adding that the FCT Minister directly funded it to rid the city of a known tool of criminals.
“These motorcycles are not just traffic violators. They are used by criminals to disrupt order, escape scenes, and commit heinous crimes. The Minister has mandated us not to allow them within restricted zones, and we are fully equipped to ensure compliance,” he said.
Meanwhile, the FCT police command base busted a suspected car theft syndicate operating in the FCT.