The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has ended contracts with taxi rank and terminal operators due to their failure to meet engagement terms and conditions.

Mr. Ubokutom Nyah, the Mandate Secretary of the Transportation Secretariat, FCTA, made this announcement during a meeting with managers of these terminals and taxi ranks in Abuja.

Nyah clarified that due to the operators’ failure to fulfill their engagement terms, the FCTA had to terminate their contracts.

He instructed them to transfer control of the ranks to the Administration within three months, starting from Nov. 21.

He lamented the presence of unauthorized motor parks in the city and assured the readiness of the Administration to establish proper taxi ranks and terminals in the capital.

He revealed that personally visiting the city’s taxi ranks, terminals, and unauthorized motor parks gave him direct insight into the poor condition of these facilities.

He emphasized that as the federal capital city, Abuja deserves better, highlighting that the poor condition of these facilities attracts various criminal elements.

He said “We must rid Abuja of all these. I have gone round the taxi ranks, and of all the places I visited, not one is worthy to be called even a village motor park.”

The Mandate Secretary stressed that the intention wasn’t punitive; rather, it aimed to revamp the sector, introduce new engagement terms, and modernize taxi ranks and terminals in the federal capital.

He also highlighted the plan to increase the number of terminals and ranks where necessary, which would positively impact the administration’s revenue.

He emphasized that this measure was part of a broader effort to eliminate illegal motor parks in Abuja and curb the associated criminal activities.

In response, Mr. Adebisi Lawal, the Operator of Jahi Taxi Rank, praised the administration’s initiative to modernize the taxi ranks and terminals.

Lawal urged the administration to prioritize current operators’ involvement in the selection of new developers for the modernization of the taxi ranks and terminals.

It was a show of power at the Ojota area of Lagos on Monday as soldiers pummeled an officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, (LASTMA).

Eyewitness accounts claim that the ugly scene played out around 8am, and saw about eight soldiers pounce on the yet to identified LASTMA official, while his colleagues took to their heels.

The video of the melodrama has gone viral, where the LASTMA official was appealing to the soldiers, who appeared bent on ‘teaching him a lesson’.

This onslaught comes on the back of a reported assault of a soldier at the same location by LASTMA officials last week.

It would appear that what played out today was the army asserting its authority and defending their khaki as the armed soldiers carried out what looked like a revenge mission.

Eyewitnesses further averred that the victim was rushed to a nearby hospital, after the soldiers left the scene.

It was gathered that the authorities at LASTMA has reported the incident to the military authorities who are said to be looking into the matter.

Meanwhile many members of the public are rejoicing that the soldiers have taught the crude LASTMA official that power is stronger than power, for all their atrocities against motorists on Lagos roads.

The Federal Road Safety Corps has revealed that the country experiences a staggering annual death toll of over 40,000 due to road traffic crashes.

Corps Marshal FRSC, Dauda Biu, made this announcement during the observance of the 7th United Nations Global Road Safety Week in Abuja.

Biu emphasized that these figures represent the distressing reality of Road Traffic Crashes and their significant contribution to fatalities and disabilities.

Globally, the situation is equally dire, with an estimated 1.3 million lives lost and up to 50 million individuals sustaining injuries each year.

Highlighting a concerning statistic, Corps Marshal FRSC, Dauda Biu, emphasized that there is no greater peril to individuals aged 5-29 years than Road Traffic Crashes.

He underscored that a distressing one in every four fatalities within this age group is attributed to pedestrians and cyclists.

“In Nigeria, over 40,000 persons die annually as a result of this avoidable scourge,“ he said.

The FRSC boss said that the United Nations had developed a global plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030.

Biu further stated that this revelation underscores the ambitious objective of reducing road traffic deaths and injuries by 50 percent by the year 2030.

The upcoming 2023 edition of the event, themed “Sustainable Transport,” is scheduled to take place from Monday to Sunday.

He said, “FRSC is partnering with the World Health Organisation, Federal Ministry of Health and United Nations Decade of Action on Road Safety and Injury Prevention to mark the event with various activities.

According to him, the need to take action to ensure safe roads, vehicles and behaviours as well as to improve emergency care is paramount.

“The 7th UN Global Road Safety Week is focusing on sustainable transport with the slogan #RethinkMobility, which necessitates the urgent need to shift to walking, cycling and using public transport.

“The key messages of this year’s event centre on the need for governments and their partners to rethink mobility.

“Ensuring safety must be at the core of efforts to re-imagine mobility and thus road networks must be designed with the most-at-risk in mind, “he said.

Despite these efforts, the Corps Marshal stressed the crucial need for all levels of government and stakeholders to prioritize mobility with the aim of providing safe and affordable mobility systems for everyone.

Biu emphasized the importance of making accessible, resilient, low, and sustainable mobility systems available to create livable cities that meet the mobility needs of all.

He reiterated that safety must remain a top priority, and urged that road networks be designed with vulnerable road users in mind as they are the most at risk.

Biu emphasized that by providing a safe environment for walking and cycling, it would not only instill a sense of security in individuals but also contribute to fostering good health, sustainable cities, and an equitable society.

Meanwhile, Prof. Sydney Ibeanusi, the Focal Person/Country representative of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety, affirmed that the government remains committed to prioritizing road safety.

Ibeanusi said that Nigeria had a better system, saying, “What we want to show the world was that the system actually exists.

“Nigeria has been chosen as a country to improve cycling, and Abuja has been chosen as one of the five states globally. This is for project implementation to encourage cycling and we will not relent in our efforts,“ he said.