Wike Orders Total Ban on Illegal Motor Parks in Abuja to Crush “One Chance” Gangs

Commercial transport operators in Abuja face an immediate shutdown as the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), under Minister Nyesom Wike, launches a major crackdown on illegal motor parks and roadside passenger loading across the nation’s capital.

The sweeping enforcement drive coincides with the opening of newly constructed, multi-billion-naira ultra-modern bus and taxi terminals in Mabushi, Kugbo, and the Central Business District (CBD).

Briefing newsmen in Abuja, the Mandate Secretary of the FCTA Transportation Secretariat, Chinedum Elechi, declared that roadside passenger pickups will be strictly banned once the new facilities become fully operational. He noted that while the CBD facility caters primarily to intra-city taxis and buses, the Mabushi and Kugbo hubs are built specifically for long-distance intercity travelers heading to various states across the country.

Highlighting security concerns, Elechi explained that illegal motor parks and ad-hoc loading points have become major operational bases for criminal syndicates, particularly “one chance” armed robbers, drug dealers, and illegal arms traffickers. He stressed that operating from regulated terminals ensures that all commercial drivers and vehicles are properly profiled, significantly reducing safety risks for commuters.

Addressing recalcitrant drivers and private property owners converting land into unauthorized transport loading bays, the administration warned that strict legal enforcement will take effect immediately. Elechi stated that the government is not taking food out of anyone’s mouth, but simply asking transport operators to move from hazardous roadsides into modern hubs built with billions of naira. He added that any private premises converted into an illegal motor park will be sealed off while non-compliant vehicles will be impounded without concessions.

The new terminals, constructed under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement with Planet Projects, mark the first comprehensive public transport terminal network built in the FCT’s nearly 50-year history. Capable of handling over 2,000 commuters daily, each facility features organized parking spaces, food courts, shopping plazas, escalators, and cinemas, with plans already underway to build additional hubs across strategic locations in the territory.