By Innocent Odoh In its efforts to stem the use of illegal commercial vehicles to perpetrate criminal activities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) called ‘One-Chance’ and to also keep the environment clean, the FCT Special Task Team on Abuja Environmental Protection has impounded 64 unpainted taxis and 4 Siena buses in Abuja.
A statement issued by the Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary to the FCT ministry, Muhammad Hazat Sule, made available to our correspondent on Monday noted that the Chairman of the FCT Special Task Team on Abuja Environmental Protection, Squadron Leader Abdullahi Adamu Monjel (rtd.) made this disclosure at the weekend in his office at Area 11, Garki I District, Abuja.
The Chairman revealed that some of the vehicles were however impounded for illegal parking, adding that the action was necessary to bring sanity to the motoring public in the Federal Capital City, Abuja since there are designated parking areas including On-Street Parking.
According to him, the Task Team in the preceding week arrested seven drivers whose vehicles were amongst the ones also impounded stressing that they will all face appropriate sanction to serve as deterrent, the statement added.
Squadron Leader Monjel further revealed that the Task Team has also impounded 42 tricycles popularly called ‘Keke NAPEP’ for operating outside the designated areas in the Federal Capital City.
He disclosed that the Task Team during the week operated in Area 1, Garki I District where several of the unpainted and unregistered taxis were being used to Berger Round-About, Apo Legislative Quarters as well as Wuse Market.
The Chairman remarked that vehicles parked illegally on walkways were also amongst the ones impounded in addition to illegal sleeping in cars at nights, the statement said.
Squadron Leader Monjel used the opportunity to further warn street hawkers and beggars to steer clear of Abuja as the long arms of the law would soon catch up with them.
He assured that the Task Team is determined to rid Abuja of environmental nuisances in consonance with the mandate given it by the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello.
