Wike approves ban on okada, keke napep and beggars in Abuja

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike says the Federal Capital Territory is moving closer to restricting commercial motorcycles and tricycles in parts of Abuja, citing growing security concerns linked to their operations.

Wike disclosed this during his monthly media briefing on Tuesday, revealing that he had already signed an approval for the measure following deliberations by the FCT Security Council.

According to the minister, the issue has gone beyond traffic congestion and environmental concerns, with security now becoming the primary reason for tightening restrictions on Okada and Keke Napep operations.

“You talked about Keke Napep and Okada, just this morning I signed the approval because we had a security council meeting where we agreed that they don’t just cause a nuisance but for the issue of security, it has become a threat,” Wike said.

However, the minister stopped short of announcing a blanket ban across the entire capital.

Instead, he said security agencies had been directed to identify parts of Abuja where commercial motorcycles and tricycles should no longer operate.

“I have told the security people to map out areas where we do not need the Keke Napep and the motorcycles but it would be difficult to ban them in the entire Abuja, particularly,” he added.

Security takes centre stage

Wike's comments suggest that the planned restrictions will be targeted rather than immediately imposed throughout the FCT.

The minister's position is that certain parts of the capital require tighter control because of the security implications associated with the movement of Okada and Keke operators.

The announcement is likely to affect one of Abuja's most widely used forms of informal transportation, particularly among residents who rely on motorcycles and tricycles to navigate areas poorly served by conventional public transport.

Wike also targets beggars and destitute persons

The minister also turned his attention to the growing presence of beggars and destitute persons on Abuja's streets.

Wike said the FCT Administration would continue efforts to remove them from major parts of the capital, but rejected the idea of establishing permanent shelters that could, in his view, encourage an influx from neighbouring states.

“We are working that out and just need approval to raise logistics, even destitutes, beggars are all over the place,” he said.

According to Wike, authorities frequently remove people from the streets only for them to return.

“Each time we take them out they come in again.”

He questioned the financial sustainability of creating facilities to permanently accommodate people arriving from other parts of the country.

“Some people say why not provide where they would be staying? How would we continue to be doing that, it means we are encouraging people to leave Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, and Kaduna; how can you fund that?” he asked.

Abuja prepares for tighter regulation

Wike's latest announcement points to a broader push by the FCT Administration to regulate activities it considers a nuisance or security risk within the capital.

For Okada and Keke operators, however, the immediate issue is where the new restrictions will apply and how soon enforcement will begin.

With the security agencies now tasked with mapping affected locations, the next phase will determine which parts of Abuja become off-limits to commercial motorcycles and tricycles.