The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, and other agencies, has commenced a sustained enforcement operation against traffic light violations, driving against traffic and other road offences across Abuja.

The Mandate Secretary of the FCTA Transportation Secretariat, Chinedum Elechi, disclosed this on Thursday at a joint intervention press conference in Abuja.

Elechi said a special task force had been established to patrol the roads and arrest offenders, who would face sanctions under relevant national and FCT traffic regulations.

He said the enforcement was necessary due to increasing disregard for traffic rules, particularly following the expansion of the FCT road network under the urban renewal programme of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The targeted offences include disobeying traffic lights and other control devices, route violations, driving against traffic, illegal parking on major roads, junctions, under bridges and pedestrian crossings.

Elechi warned motorists and commercial transport operators to use designated routes and park only in approved areas.

He said the exercise would be sustained and could include mandatory medical and psychological evaluation where applicable.

“Offenders will have to face the full weight of the law when they involve in the dangerous exercise of driving against traffic or breaking traffic lights,” he said.

The FCT Sector Commander of the FRSC, Corps Commander Tijjani Iliyasu, said excessive overloading, traffic light violations, route violations, driving against traffic and indiscriminate parking were contributing to congestion and endangering road users.

Iliyasu said offenders arrested for applicable violations would undergo prescribed medical and psychological evaluation before prosecution, in accordance with the amended National Road Traffic Regulations 2012.

He urged motorists to obey traffic lights, road signs and markings, avoid overloading and use only authorised routes, while calling on road users to park only at designated areas and comply with traffic enforcement personnel.

“Always remember that time saved by risking a life is not worth it,” Iliyasu cautioned.

The officials said the joint enforcement exercise would continue across strategic locations in the FCT as authorities intensify efforts to improve traffic flow, reduce road violations and protect lives and property.