DRTS discontinues registration of dispatch riders in Abuja

The Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) in the federal capital territory (FCT) says it will no longer be registering dispatch riders, due to their non-adherence to traffic rules and regulations in the nation’s capital city. 

Kalu Emetu, head of public relations and enlightenment of the service, disclosed this during an interview with NAN on Friday in Abuja.

“We have been having series of engagements with the riders for them to see reason to obey traffic rules and regulations but to no avail,” he said.

“This is what informed our resolve to stop further registration. 2,500 of them have been cleared to operate within the FCT so far.

“The Public Transport Mass Scheme, the unit in the DRTS that is responsible for regulating their activities, has been engaging the operators and the owners. But, that has so far yielded very little result.

“So, based on all these worrisome activities, especially riding against traffic, speeding and reckless riding, we decided to stop further registration to contend with the activities of the operators headlong.

“We have also come to realise that registering more of them would constitute more public nuisance.”

He added that many of the riders have been arrested and their motorcycles dumped at Wuye office of the service.

He said the service was considering limiting their movements to particular routes, especially in the city centre.

“For instance, those that reside in Gwagwalada axis will only be allowed to operate between Lugbe and Gwagwalada, while those in Kubwa axis will only operate between Zuba and the city centre,” Emetu added.