Federal Capital Territory Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has undertaken a tour of the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Expressway (Airport Road) and directed that immediate measures should be taken to ensure the environmental sanitation and cleanliness, enforcement of traffic regulations and removal of illegal structures along the entire road corridor.
In a statement made available to Transport Day in Abuja, the Minister said that the Airport is quite strategic as it is the gateway to the city and therefore akin to the front entrance to a home which must be kept clean and aesthetically appealing at all times. Bello, directed that petty traders, artisans and all others carrying out business activities under the high tension electricity cables should immediately vacate the area for the sake of their health and conduct their business activities within the confines of the communities, adding that all illegal structures along the road should be removed and directed that officials of the FRSC, Directorate of Road Traffic Services as well as other security agencies should ensure compliance of traffic regulations by road users at all times.
Malam Bello noted with concern the penchant by some road users to drive against the traffic along the airport road, noting that their actions put the lives of other road users at risk. He also pointed out to the security agencies the activities of commercial tricycle (Keke) and motorcycle (okada) operators who have been banned from operating along the expressway and directed that they should be apprehended and made to meet the prescribed penalties.
Speaking at the end of the tour, the Minister pledged to restore the beauty of the Airport Road which he said had been degraded largely due to urbanization and the large influx of people into the FCT.
Earlier, Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council AMAC Hon Adamu Candido also pledged to complement the efforts of the FCTA in effecting the measures necessary for maintaining the aesthetic value of the road.
The Sapeyi of Garki, Alhaji Usman Ngakupi also pledged to get the cooperation of his subjects and ensure that they comply with all the traffic and environmental regulations along the airport road.
The Minister was accompanied on the tour by the FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr Bala Ciroma; the Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr Gora Wobin; FCT Director of the DSS, Mr Ado Muazu; Chief of Staff to the Commandant Guards Brigade, Lt. Col, S. Y Hassan, the Directors of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, Development Control as well as the heads of other relevant departments and agencies of the FCTA.
