The National Industrial Safety Council of Nigeria (NISCN) has urged the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, to promptly address what it terms as “terroristic” behavior by transport workers in Abuja.
Founded by the Federal Government in 1964 and officially recognized in 1989, NISCN expressed deep concern over the escalating problem of aggressive motor touts operating within transport unions across the FCT. These individuals have been persistently intimidating and jeopardizing the safety of motorists navigating Abuja’s roads.
In a statement signed by NISCN President, Engr. John Obajinmi, the fct-police-command-denies-sealing-pdp-secretariat/” title=”… police command denies sealing PDP Secretariat”>council-warns-nigeria-middle-east-crisis/” title=”Shariah … Warns … to Steer Clear of Middle East Conflict”>council highlighted that certain union members and local touts, particularly those affiliated with the AMAC area, have assumed quasi-law enforcement roles by extorting vehicle owners under the pretense of selling “union tickets.”
“They have criminalized simple acts such as parking, dropping off, or picking up friends and family on the streets, which has led to numerous preventable accidents throughout the city,” the statement emphasized. “Alarmingly, these offenses often occur openly in the presence of police officers who are expected to safeguard the public.”
Areas identified as frequent sites of these disturbances include Wuse Market, Ilobu Petrol Station, Bannex Bridge, Mabushi, Berger Bridge, Area 1, and the bridges along Airport Road.
Illustrating the dire consequences of this menace, NISCN recounted a tragic event on Tuesday, September 2, at Mabushi, where a couple lost their lives in a car accident after touts forcibly entered their vehicle and wrestled for control of the steering wheel. The violent backlash from local residents, which resulted in the deaths of two touts, signals a dangerous level of public exasperation.
“This incident is a clear indication that citizens are reaching a breaking point and may resort to taking justice into their own hands unless the FCT administration acts swiftly to prevent further chaos,” the statement warned.
Beyond transportation issues, the council also called on Minister Wike to confront what it described as a “classic exploitation” occurring in Abuja’s educational institutions. Publishers and school proprietors are reportedly forcing students to complete assignments directly in their textbooks, rendering the books unusable for younger siblings and compelling parents to purchase new copies each academic year.
“This practice not only imposes significant financial strain on families and workers but also exacerbates environmental degradation through unnecessary book production,” Obajinmi noted. “The resulting hardship is contributing to emotional and psychological stress among Nigerian workers, demanding immediate remedial action.”
He encouraged the FCT Minister, who holds a role equivalent to that of a state governor, to emulate the proactive measures taken by governors in states like Anambra and Ebonyi, where writing directly in textbooks has been prohibited due to its wastefulness and unsustainability.
“Minister Wike has the authority and responsibility to implement decisive policies that alleviate the burdens faced by residents, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” Obajinmi concluded.
