Arrested FCT one-way drivers to undergo emotional test

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has arrested over 50 dispatch riders for violating traffic regulations in the city.

Director, FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services DRTS, Alhaji Wadata Bodinga, who stated this at a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja, declared that a mandatory emotional test would be undertaken by those arrested for one-way offence.

He said the conduct and activities of dispatch riders in the city would no longer be acceptable by the FCTA and the motoring public.

“We are here to parade the dispatch riders that we arrested for either riding against one-way in the city or beating the traffic lights.

“As you may observe, the number of dispatch riders has increased within the city, probably because of the COVID-19 pandemic that is ravaging not only Abuja or Nigeria but the whole world and because of their door-to-door services (dispatch riders) which can actually ease people that are staying at home to be able to deliver some of their needs.”

Bodinga also said, “Their activities and conduct on the road are no longer acceptable. We have received a lot of complaints about their conduct and we have seen it too.

“Just between Tuesday and today, Wednesday, over 50 motorcycles and dispatch riders have been arrested for various offences, because they are the major culprits when it comes to beating traffic and riding on one-way in the city which is not acceptable.”

According to him, the directorate has directed all those arrested for using one-way and beating the traffic to go for emotional evaluation at recognised hospitals in the FCT.

The director said that the enforcement is a continuous one, adding, “This is Abuja and even where the traffic lights are not working, our men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force are there to ensure sanity.

“People should be seen to at least obey the traffic lights in the territory and sadly, that is not the case when it comes to these dispatch riders as you can see the results of the operation.

“Because they are dispatch riders, we expect that these motorcycles should be owned by corporate organisations but from the records, we have realised that most of them are just owned by individuals who just decided to put the boxes and start operations.”

“They will bring results from the hospitals first. After they have done that, we are going to take them to the mobile court which has already started sitting. After the magistrate session is over then they will equally come for two weeks compulsory training with a formal letter from their various companies and organisations.”

He also said those belonging to registered organisations, “we have drafted formal letters that we are going to send to their various companies and organisations informing them of the conduct of their drivers and the need for them to bring other drivers for mandatory training to update them on traffic rules and regulations.”