Wike Issues Fresh Threat To Abuja Car Dealers, Roadside Transporters

Abuja car dealers risk having their vehicles impounded and auctioned for operating in green areas and parks, as well as transporters who continue to carry out activities along roadsides.

This is as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, warned that the FCT Administration will begin taking decisive action against violators.

Naija News reports that Wike issued the warning during an inspection tour, where he expressed concern over the failure of some roadside transporters and car dealers to comply with the FCT Administration’s directives.

According to Wike, the government had issued repeated warnings to those operating illegally in restricted areas, but many had continued to disregard the directives.

He warned that vehicles found violating the directives would be impounded and subsequently auctioned by the government.

According to him, some Nigerians only respond when the government takes firm action against violations.

The FCT Administration recently rolled out two major directives: requiring public transporters to use designated bus terminals and directing car dealers to cease operating in green areas and parks.

The measures are part of the administration’s efforts to tackle flooding in the territory and enhance security in the transportation sector.

In other news, the Senate explained that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was excluded from the proposed state police arrangement because it lacks the constitutional structures of a state, including a governor and a House of Assembly.

Naija News reports that the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Yemi Adaramodu, gave an explanation on Friday while responding to questions over why the FCT was not captured in the emerging framework for decentralized policing.

Adaramodu said the territory remained under the direct administration of the Federal Government and was constitutionally different from the 36 states.

“I have heard many people raise a lot of questions on why the Federal Capital Territory is not among the plan for state police. The FCT issue is different. It is under the Federal Government,” he said.

The Ekiti lawmaker noted that the FCT is administered by a minister who operates under the Federal Executive Council, unlike states headed by elected governors.

“Again, the FCT does not have a governor. It is run by a minister who subscribes to the Federal Executive Council. It is from this FEC that the FCT takes directives and its administrative relevance,” Adaramodu said.

He added that legislative responsibility for the territory rests with the National Assembly.

“So, the federal capital does not have an assembly. It is the National Assembly that legislates for the FCT. This is why it can’t be different from what the Federal Government does. Therefore, the federal police are in charge,” he stated.

The clarification comes amid moves by the Federal Government to establish a new policing structure following sustained calls for the decentralization of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The Presidency had disclosed that President Bola Tinubu was expected to receive the draft Executive National Policing Bill on September 3 as part of efforts to overhaul the policing system.

The Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, announced the development after a meeting of the group at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.