By Remi Johnson
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), is to henceforth sanction motorists who violate traffic regulations.
The Mandate Secretary, FCT Transport Secretariat, Mr Chinedum Elechi made this known in Abuja during a joint press briefing with FCT Road Safety Sector Command on the renewed traffic enforcement to safe Guard life.
The exercise, which will be sustained rather than conducted as a one-off operation, is aimed at improving road safety, easing traffic congestion and ensuring strict compliance with traffic regulations across the nation’s capital.
The FRSC FCT Sector Commander, Tijjani Iliyasu, disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, saying the command was particularly concerned about increasing cases of excessive vehicle overloading, traffic-light violations, route violations, driving against traffic and indiscriminate parking.
Iliyasu said such offences contribute significantly to traffic congestion, obstruct the free movement of vehicles and endanger the lives and property of road users.
He explained that, in line with Regulation 176, Sub-regulation 5 of the amended National Road Traffic Regulations 2012, persons suspected of committing applicable traffic offences would be subjected to medical and psychological evaluation at a government hospital before prosecution, at their own expense.
According to him, offenders apprehended for applicable offences, particularly excessive overloading, traffic-light violations and route violations, including driving against traffic, will henceforth undergo the prescribed evaluation before prosecution.
The Sector Commander stressed that the measure was intended to address dangerous driving behaviour and promote responsible road use, rather than harass or intimidate members of the public.
Also speaking, the FCT Mandate Secretary, Transport Secretariat, said the collaboration between the FCTA and FRSC represented an important step towards restoring sanity to the transportation system in the FCT.
He said the initiative was particularly necessary following the massive road renewal and expansion projects being undertaken by the FCT Administration under the leadership of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
According to him, while the improved road infrastructure has enhanced mobility and connectivity, it has also created new traffic-management challenges, with some motorists taking advantage of the expanded roads to disregard traffic rules.
He said the joint enforcement operation would focus on disregard for traffic lights and other traffic-control devices, route violations and unauthorised use of restricted routes, including driving against traffic, commonly referred to as “one-way.”
Other areas of focus, he added, include illegal parking on major roads, junctions and pedestrian bridges, as well as vehicle overloading.
The Mandate Secretary warned that offenders apprehended during the continuous exercise would face appropriate sanctions under the National Road Traffic Regulations 2012 and the FCT Road Traffic Regulations 2023.
He urged motorists and commercial transport operators to obey traffic regulations, use designated routes, park only in approved areas and desist from overloading their vehicles.
He further clarified that the enforcement exercise was not designed to harass motorists, but to promote safer roads, smoother traffic flow and the protection of lives and property.
Adding a security dimension to the initiative, the Director of Security, Adamu Gwari, represented by Dr Peter Olumuji, said the FCT Administration was concerned about the activities of Keke Napep operators, Okada riders and some commercial transport operators who use unauthorised routes.
He linked effective traffic management to broader security concerns, including the need to curb “one-chance” incidents and other violent crimes in the capital.
He said the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS) and other relevant security agencies would support the enforcement exercise to maintain order and ensure that resistance by offenders was handled within the law.
The security representative emphasised that an efficient and well-regulated transportation system was an important component of urban security, adding that the collaboration would combine traffic enforcement, transportation management and security to make the FCT safer.