Residents Laud FCTA’s Consistent Clamp Down on ‘One Chance Operators’

Some residents of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, have commended ongoing efforts by the FCT Administration to rid the city of “one chance” operators.

The residents gave the commendation in Abuja during the ongoing raid on one chance operators, illegal motor parks and motorists engaged in illegal parking around the city.

One of the residents, Mr Aminu Usman, described the initiative as a “welcomed development”, stressing that the efforts would ensure safety of public transportation within the city.

Mr Usman said he was once a victim of one chance operators when he first came into the city, explaining that the operators collected N3,000 from him for a trip of N300.

“One of my friends was also a victim when he entered a taxi from Gwarinpa to AYA, only for the operators to take him somewhere else and collected all his valuables. This initiative will significantly address the menace of One Chance operators and encourage residents to board taxis at designated motor parks where they can make complaints when they are shortchanged”. he said.

Also, Mrs Josephine Michael, a resident of Life Camp Abuja, also said that efforts to rid the city of one chance operators would make residents feel safe and secure.

“I am always afraid whenever I want to board a vehicle, particularly at night in the city, because I do not want to enter the wrong taxi and end up with one chance. I really commend the FCTA for taking the bold step to ensure that residents feel safe whenever they need to take a taxi,” she said.

The Secretary Command and Control, FCTA Mr Peter Olumuji, who warned that the exercise is a continuous one, advised residents against boarding unpainted taxis in undesignated motor parks in order not to fall victims.

“We realized that when we dislodged illegal motor parks, the operations of one chance syndicates will significantly reduce.This is because, most of the one chance activities are done through unpainted taxis operating illegal motor parks and that is why we have been going after them.”

On her part, the Head of Operations, Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), Mrs Deborah Osho who hinted that over 30 vehicles were impounded during the operation, said over 100 vehicles have been impounded since the Operation Clean Abuja began some weeks ago.

“Everyone should obey the law. There are designated parking spaces for the motoring public and designated motor parks for commercial vehicles, use them or we will arrest you,” she said.

Remi Johnson, Edited By Grace Namiji