Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has announced that starting in 2025, all commercial bus and taxi drivers operating in Abuja will be required to secure clearance from the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS).
Wike made this announcement during the FCT Renewed Hope Youth Empowerment Programme held on Thursday, emphasizing that the measure aims to reduce incidents of kidnapping and the prevalence of ‘one-chance’ robbery in the capital.
He stated that any commercial driver who has not been vetted by the security agencies will be prohibited from operating in the territory.
“He said, “Most of the Keke Napep and most of the motorcycles are informants. Everybody here who is a beneficiary is being profiled by security.
“And so what we are coming up with is that from January next year, there will be nobody that will operate as a taxi driver or a bus driver without having approval from security. Nothing like using any vehicle on the road. No, we won’t allow that. We won’t allow that starting in January.
“We will take the vehicle number, the names of the drivers, and the rest so everybody will have confidence that this is the vehicle I’m entering in case anything happens.”
Wike also handed over some new cars to beneficiaries to use as taxis. He encouraged the beneficiaries not to be ashamed that they are being empowered to be taxi drivers.
The minister stated that many Nigerians who reject taxi driving jobs at home gladly embrace such when they travel abroad.
“They are not paying a dime. No, the government is saying this is our support to feed your family and reduce the cost of transportation in the city… Abuja should compete with other cities in the world,” he said.
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