The FCT Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) says the directorate has impounded 70 motorcycles and 26 vehicles in two days in Abuja over various traffic offenses.

The offences included illegal operations, indiscriminate parking and conversion of vehicle permits from private to commercial purposes.

The VIO task force team made the seizures in operations it conducted on Wednesday and Thursday around Bannex junction and bridge, Orji Uzo-Kalu House, Lugbe and Gosa axis of the Airport road, Logoma roundabout and Jabi-Airport road.

Speaking with newsmen, Deputy Director, Operations, Mr Dele Yaro, who led the exercise, said that the impounded vehicles and motorcycles would await further action.

Yaro said given the low number of motorcycles impounded, there seemed to be some level of compliance by commercial motorcyclists popularly known as ‘Okada’ operators to keep off the highways.

“By what happened today, it is likely there is some level of compliance, as the number of motorcycles arrested today are not as much as those arrested on Wednesday.

“We did not focus only on motorcycles today, but equally on vehicles operating illegally and parking indiscriminately on the road thereby causing traffic jam,” he said.

Yaro said the Directorate would continue to ensure roads are safe for users, as they plan to enforce high compliance.

“It is an everyday affair to make sure we sustain the operation, vehicle and motorcycle drivers must obey the FCT transport policy,” he said.

The Taskforce Head, Mr Adamu Maiwada, expressed concern on the harassment and attacks of operatives by motorists and motorcyclists.

Maiwada said some members of the taskforce at times ended up in hospitals.

One of the offenders, Mr Suleiman Ahmed, said that he was arrested for parking on a pedestrian walkway around Banex plaza.

Ahmed said that he went into the plaza to shop only to see his vehicle being towed by men of the taskforce.

He blamed the authorities and owners of businesses for not providing enough parking space in commercial areas.

Ahmed said that the situation has forced motorists to park their vehicles in any available space and said the authorities should also force owners of businesses to provide parking spaces.