FCTA bans mini-buses (Araba) from Abuja today

The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, will today commence the implementation its new transport policy that is aimed at providing efficient transport operation within the territory.

The policy, which begins with the deployment of 350 high capacity buses in various parts of the territory, will facilitate the phasing out of mini-buses from the city.

FCT Transport Secretary, Mr. Jonathan Ivoke, said the administration was prepared to commence the implementation of the policy, adding that it would enhance 40 per cent reduction in transport fares.

Ivoke, who spoke through the Director, Mass Transit, Mr. Adewole Adeosho, said the commencement of the policy would restrict mini-bus drivers operations to the earlier delineated routes outside the city as they are free to operate in the satellite towns.

He said their operation would terminate at the various interchanges on the Kubwa axis, Yar’ Adua Expressway and Nyanya interchange, where they are to feed the highway with passengers for the high capacity buses to commute into the city.

Taxis are exempted from the restriction as their services will still be needed in the city and other parts of the territory.

Ivoke added that the introduction of the full services of the high capacity buses in the city will reduce the rate of accidents witnessed on the road as the drivers are trained to observe road codes and respect speed limits.

Spokeswoman of the Transport Secretariat, Mrs. Stella Ojeme, said by the end of June, the high capacity buses will be increased to 600 following more deployment by other licensees.

According to her; “By the end of June, another batch of 300 buses would be deployed into the city by the various licensed companies” and emphasised that the buses will be running on schedule thereby making it easy for commuters to meet appointments and increase manhour for public and private business operations.

She said the lowest fare is N50 while the highest is pegged at N150 for the farthest distances of Gwagwalada, Kuje and Zuba.