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POST BY FRANKCIXA.JAN.13,2024.4MINS READ.
The Directorate of Road Transport Services (DRTS), Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commenced demolition of shops, eateries, and other illegal structures in taxi ranks across the capital city, of Abuja. The demolition started in Area 3 and Banex Junction Taxi Ranks, in Abuja on Friday. In Area 3 Taxi Rank, the DTRS team, supported by security agencies, demolished a 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.
The demolition occurred following a notice issued on Sunday by Muktar Galadima, the FCTA Director of Development Control, during a meeting with traders and owners of shops at the Area 1 shopping complex.
The meeting was to reach an understanding with the traders and owners of shops in the area before the demolition was carried out. A trader at the Area 1 shopping center, Aminu Maradun said the officials only told the traders they needed to clean up the area and not demolish it.
“I am surprised, I don’t know what is happening. They are demolishing the Kilishi market. They only came here yesterday and told us to shift our things because they wanted to do some work there, but they didn’t tell us they wanted to demolish the market. Only for them to come very early to demolish the place.
“Honestly, we never knew it was going to be demolition. I was called by my people who told me what was happening, by the time I got here around 8:30 a.m. they had already gone far.”
Dr Peter Olumuji, the 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.
“After going around with DRTS officials, we noticed that most of the taxi ranks were occupied by people who were not meant to be there.
“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.
Head of Operations, DRTS, Mrs Deborah Osho, who led the team, explained that the measure was to give room for more taxis to operate within the ranks.
“On Monday, the DRTS invited all the stakeholders in the transportation sector for a meeting, and one of the resolutions was to clear the taxi ranks for taxis to operate inside the ranks. We have equally handed over a space around Eagle Square for tax operators to use as a 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
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