Govt to ban unprofiled commercial vehicles from January

• Injects 80 vehicles into FCT transportation fleet

Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike yesterday said commercial vehicles within the FCT will be profiled starting January 2025 to curb insecurity.

Wike said this at the FCT Renewed Hope Youth Empowerment Programme in Abuja where 80 new vehicles were presented to beneficiaries to use as taxis.

He said: “They are not paying a dime. The government is saying this is our support to feed your family and reduce the cost of transportation in the city. Abuja should compete with other cities in the world.

“Let it be known that effective from January 2025, any commercial bus not duly profiled by security agencies won’t be allowed to operate within the nation’s capital.

“Most of the tricycle and motorcycle riders are informants. Everybody here that is a beneficiary is being profiled by the security. And so, what we are coming up with is that from January next year, there will be nobody that will operate as a taxi driver or bus driver without approval from security agencies. We will take the vehicle number, name of the drivers and the rest so everybody will have confidence that this is the vehicle I’m entering in case anything happens. We must follow rules and regulations and do the right thing.”

Wike also said past administrations did not think of women and youth inclusiveness, but President Bola Tinubu has thought it wise to create the Youth Secretariat as well as the Women Affairs secretariat to empower them.

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on FCT, Aliyu Betara, praised Wike for the legacy projects.

“After four years, Wike’s legacy will surpass all others; a legacy that no other minister will beat. As National Assembly members, we are with you because you stand for development,” he said.

Youth Secretariat Mandate Secretary, Abdullahi Ango appreciated Wike for the scheme, and described him as ‘a blessing to the FCT and Nigeria as a whole’.

Ango cautioned the beneficiaries not to default but obey the rules of the route.