VIO faults restriction of painted taxis

The FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Service (DRTS) has described as abnormal the restriction of painted taxis from housing estates and certain public places in Abuja.

Its spokesman, Mr Kalu Emetu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that those behind the restriction were acting without government policy backing.

Emetu noted that it was the managers of such facilities, who turn away painted taxis from their premises for reasons bordering largely on nuisance control.

“We have seen it as an anomaly, and government through the Directorate of Road Traffic Service is doing a lot to see that it is corrected.

“We have written to such organisations and estates for them to begin to allow painted taxis because we have the identities of their operators unlike the unpainted ones.

“If they continue to allow unpainted vehicles, criminals will take advantage of it to attack the places they feel they are protecting,’’ he said.

NAN reports that painted in the FCT taxis official green colour are denied access to the premises of hotels and public establishments such as ministries, departments and agencies.

They are also not allowed into the Three Arms Zone, which hosts the National Assembly, the Supreme Court and the Presidential Villa.

A security expert, Mr Roy Okhidievbie, told NAN that the restriction of painted taxis in certain places was an indication that the policy banning unpainted ones had collapsed.

Okhidievbie said it was even the unpainted taxis that should be restricted from those places since they posed greater security risks.

“Painted taxi operators can easily be identified by the distinctive markings and easily identifiable colour codes on their vehicles.

“This makes them even more easily traceable when it comes to investigating crime.

“Besides, most of the branded taxis are driven by elderly drivers who take it as a lifetime profession,’’ he said.

He, however, noted that part of the reasons for their restriction was nuisance control.’’(NAN)