ONGOING: We Are Pulling Down Structures To Stem ‘One Chance’–FCT DRTS

Early Friday morning roll out of bulldozers into taxi parks in the nation’s capital Abuja, according authorities appear to be more of measures to curb increasing ‘one chance’ robbery incident in the federal capital.

This much, the Directorate of Road Transport Services, DRTS of the nation’s capital, on Friday, said to news men when it rolled in the bulldozers against structures it believes impedes vehicular right of way and provides shelters for miscreants.

‘One chance’ is specialized form of robbery’s where robbers ambush single commuter in a taxi after luring him in with claim that only one per passenger space is left in the vehicle.

The demolition at the parks in Abuja is still ongoing as DDM files this report.
According to FCT authority, the exercise is in keeping with renewed vigour to put the Abuja masterplan in place.

Shops, eateries, and other illegal structures in taxi parks across the nation’s capital city were being reduced to rubbles.

The demolition began from Area 3 and Banex Junction Taxi Ranks, in Abuja in the morning on Friday and may continue till evening according to reports.
In Area 3 Taxi Rank, the DTRS team, supported by security agencies, demolished car wash, mechanic workshop, cinema house, and eateries among others, operating within the ranks.

At Banex Junction Taxi Rank, the taxis were not using the ranks because they had been taken over by miscreants and were using the space to sell hard drugs, including adulterated fuel and diesel.
Speaking on the exercise, Head of Operations, DRTS, Mrs Deborah Osho, explained that the measure was to give room for more taxis to operate within the ranks.

According to her, FCT will discourage illegal taxi parks across the city on grounds that there was not enough space in the taxi ranks.

She added that the move would also address the menace of “one chance” operators, who took advantage of the illegal parks to perpetuate their evil deeds.

She pointed out during the exercise that most of the tax ranks were not being used for taxi operations but serving as criminals’ hideout and selling of hard drugs, including petroleum products.
Osho explained that the decision to demolish and clear the taxi ranks of all illegal structures was reached after a meeting with transport stakeholders on the need for a cleaner and serene environment in FCT.

“On Monday, the DRTS invited all the stakeholders in the transportation sector for a meeting, and one of the resolutions was to clear the tax ranks for taxis to operate inside the ranks.

“We have equally handed over a space around Eagle Square for tax operators to use as temporary taxi rank, to stop the menace of illegal parks around the Federal Secretariat.

“We are prepared to clean all taxi ranks in 2024, to ensure that motorists board taxis inside the taxi ranks and not outside.

“This in the long run, will address the menace of “one chance” in the city,” she said.

Meanwhile, Dr Peter Olumuji, Secretary, Command and Control Centre, Department of Security Service, FCTA, said One chance happens when people do not have a secured taxi rank to board vehicles.

“Haven gone round with DRTS officials, we noticed that most of the taxi ranks were occupied by people that were not meant to be there, and not given room to taxi owners to use the space.

“But as we clear these illegal structures, more vehicles will be coming into the ranks so that commuters will be able to board safe and secured taxis to their various destinations. This is a joint effort that will continue,” he said.

Olumuji said that to sustain the clean taxi ranks operations, there was a need for more personnel for DRTS and vehicular assets to move to every nuke and crannies of the city.

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