Stop Flaunting Traffic Laws -FCT Warns Truck Drivers

The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammad Musa Bello has warned articulated vehicle owners  found of flouting traffic regulations to desist or face penalties.

Bello issued the statement during a visit by the national executives of the, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), and Petroleum Tanker Drivers.

The visit was led by the body’s national President, Comrade Prince William Akporeha.

Bello said traffic laws specified that articulated vehicles were banned from using roads in the mornings and early evenings.

He however said the law was to safeguard lives and property in the FCT.

According to him, “There are timings as to when articulated vehicles are allowed to move. And normally, the restrictions are mainly in the morning and early evening along the major arterial roads of Gwagwalada, Suleja and Mararaba so that tanker movements will not clash with the heavy vehicular movement in the city at such hours”

He decried that truck driver miss harp was also one of the major causes of accidents in the country’s capital.

He also commended NUPENG for their role in creating jobs in the country, adding that the FCT was making efforts to build truck yards, which would serve as transit park for tankers and equipment facilities.

The minister also said the FCT was set to construct a 45km expressway from the outskirt of the city to the city centre, as part of the FCT master plan.He said: “On the long-term basis, benefits of which will be after my tenure, there is going to be a major expressway, that will start from Gwagwalada and come into the city through Apo.

“It is about 45km and it is going to be ten lanes, three carriageways at the centre and two service lanes. It will come to happen,” he added.

 The FCT road traffic laws banned the movement of articulated vehicles within the city from 5am to 10am and 4pm to 9pm in the evenings.