ABUJA – An official of the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) on Friday attributed the high rate of crime by[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
the gang, who operates in cabs in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to the use of unpainted taxis.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
Members of the gang, popularly called “One Chance’’, usually rob their passengers on highways.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
Mr Felix Okoronkwo, an Operation Officer in VIO, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the use of unpainted vehicles for commercial transportation had exposed residents to the activities of the gang.
“Many people have fallen victims of this “One Chance’’ gang out of ignorance and because of the non-identification of the vehicles which they (members of the gang) use for operation,’’ Okoronkwo said.
He said the directorate received daily reports on the activities of the gang who operates mostly at the [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”8″]
Berger Roundabout, Wuse II and Garki, Area I.
“We have asked people to stop patronising unpainted taxis and buses in order not to be victims of the `One Chance’ gang.
“We have continuously told motorists who want to operate taxis in the town to comply with the government laws on their operation by registering their vehicles legally.
“The commercial taxi drivers can register their vehicles with any licensed transport operator which is recognised in the FCT to enhance safety and security.
“By registering, if anything happens or a crime is committed with the painted car, through the bold side numbers we can trace the vehicle out rightly and sort it out,’’ Okoronkwo said.
He said the “One Chance`’ business was becoming rampant with the unpainted vehicles than the painted cabs because every painted vehicle had a number on its side.
According to him, Volkswagen Gulf and Nissan Sony cars are mostly used by the criminals and women form majority of victims.
Okoronkwo said VIO, Nigeria Police Force and Federal Road Safety Corps were collaborating to solve the problem.
“We will continue to arrest and prosecute unpainted vehicle drivers if we find out that they are using their private cars for commercial purposes.
“Once we get the person we will compel him to paint or we paint the vehicle for him and he will change his number plate and register with the transport companies.
“The driver will pay N50, 000 before we release the vehicle,’’ he said.
Okoronkwo said that the enforcement in FCT over the years was ongoing.
He said a major hindrance to the enforcement was complaints by the unpainted taxi drivers that some government offices and private organisations, especially hotels, restricted the movement of painted taxis.
Okoronkwo, however, said some drivers out of pride had continued to operate unpainted taxis.
He said the VIO had embarked on a sensitisation to make government agencies, hotels and offices to see reason why they should allow the painted vehicles into their premises.
Meanwhile, some unpainted taxi drivers said they were not involved in “One Chance” business but only wanted to be allowed to operate without humiliation.
Bernard Owoh, an unpainted taxi driver, refuted the allegation that unpainted taxi operators engaged in “One Chance” business.
“We have also seen cases of “One Chance” business among the painted taxi drivers, we do not promote them,’’ Owoh said.
He said from his experience in the transport business drivers refused to register their vehicles because many people, especially some top officials in Abuja, preferred using unpainted vehicles for security reasons.
Mr Friday Oboshi, another driver, complained of the humiliation which one could face after painting and registering a vehicle with a licensed transport operator.
“Once you register, you will not go to some places like hotel premises, the airport, estates like the Sun City Estate and many offices.
“Some police officers also like to intimidate and harass the drivers of those painted vehicles whereas they cannot do same to us that use unpainted taxis.
NAN recalls that the FCT Transport Secretariat in 2014 set Oct. 1 as the deadline for all taxis to be painted. (NAN)
- Latest
- Trending
