The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other security and traffic management agencies, has commenced a sustained enforcement operation against traffic light violations, driving against traffic and other road offences across Abuja.
The mandate secretary, FCTA Transportation Secretariat, Mr Chinedum Elechi, disclosed this yesterday at a joint press conference in Abuja, where he warned motorists that offenders would face the full weight of the law.
Elechi said a joint task force comprising the FCT Security Department, Traffic Control Department, FRSC and other relevant agencies would commence patrols and arrest motorists found violating traffic regulations.
According to him, the enforcement became necessary following the increasing disregard for traffic rules by some motorists, particularly with the expansion of the FCT road network under the urban renewal programme of the FCT minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike.
He said the massive road construction and expansion projects had improved mobility and connectivity across the territory but had also created new challenges for traffic management.
“With some drivers taking advantage of the improved road infrastructure to disregard traffic rules and regulations,” he said.
Elechi described the collaboration with the FRSC FCT Sector Command and other agencies as a major step towards restoring sanity to the territory’s traffic management system.
“We are extremely happy to have this special collaboration with the Sector Command of the FCT. I think this is the first time that we’re having this kind of collaboration,” he said.
He listed the major offences targeted by the enforcement to include disobedience to traffic lights and other traffic control devices, route violations, unauthorised use of restricted routes, driving against traffic, illegal parking on major roads and junctions, parking under bridges and obstruction of pedestrian crossings.
The mandate secretary urged motorists and commercial transport operators to obey traffic regulations, use designated routes and park only at approved locations.
He stressed that the enforcement would be sustained, adding that apprehended offenders would face appropriate sanctions under relevant national and FCT traffic regulations.
Elechi further disclosed that the exercise would, where applicable, include mandatory medical and psychological evaluation in line with the National Road Traffic Regulations 2012 and the FCT Road Traffic Regulations.
“Offenders will have to face the full weight of the law when they involve in the dangerous exercise of driving against traffic or breaking traffic lights,” he warned.
He, however, clarified that the exercise was not intended to harass law-abiding motorists but to promote safer roads, improve traffic flow and protect lives and property.
Also speaking, the FCT Sector Commander of the FRSC, Corps Commander Tijjani Iliyasu, expressed concern over the rising incidence of excessive overloading, traffic light violations, route violations, driving against traffic and indiscriminate parking in the territory.
He said the offences contributed significantly to traffic congestion, hindered the free movement of vehicles and exposed road users to avoidable danger.
Iliyasu said the situation required sustained enforcement, public enlightenment and stronger collaboration among relevant stakeholders.
The FRSC commander disclosed that motorists apprehended for applicable offences, particularly excessive overloading, traffic light violations and route violations, including driving against traffic, would henceforth undergo prescribed medical and psychological evaluation before prosecution.
He cited Regulation 176, Sub-regulation 5 of the amended National Road Traffic Regulation 2012, which, according to him, requires persons suspected of committing applicable offences to undergo medical and psychological evaluation at an approved government hospital before prosecution, at their own expense.
Iliyasu said the measure was aimed at addressing dangerous driving behaviour and promoting responsible road use, stressing that it was not intended to intimidate or harass members of the public.
