Only 2500 dispatch riders have been cleared to operate in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. This was revealed by the Head of Public Relations and Enlightenment at the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), Kalu Emetu, during a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.
Mr Kalu also announced that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has temporary suspended the registration of dispatch riders in the capital territory. The temporary suspension of registration of dispatch riders was as a result of their failure to obey traffic rules and regulations around the FCT.
The Head of Public Relations said the DRTS has been having a series of engagements with the riders with the aim getting them to see reason to obey traffic rules and regulations. However all that effort has been to no avail thus the decision to suspend registration of new ones.
“The Public Transport Mass Scheme, the unit in the DRTS that is responsible for regulating their activities have been engaging the operators and the owners, but that had so far yielded very little result. “This is what informed our resolve to stop further registration. 2,500 of them have been cleared to operate within the FCT so far,” he said.
Unruly dispatch riders in the FCT
Dispatch riders are very essential to the new realities of remote work and other aspects of the emerging socio-economic society. Arguably the biggest players in the big economy, they are the powerhouses behind facilitating online trade and general e-commerce.
Ranging from food delivery to delivery of household items, transfer of essential documents and other commodities, dispatch riders have become major grease oiling the engines of commerce and commerce. As such they have become a major factor in today’s business places.
However, it is difficult to overlook their tendency to be overzealous. Possibly due to the promise of instant delivery which their operators promise, and with same day delivery becoming a buzzword and selling point, the riders become prone to disregarding traffic laws in total disregard for personal and public safety.
This is likely to put them in crosshairs with the law and the administration of Nigeria’s capital city appears to be taking measures to curb their excesses.
Kalu Emetu this noted that the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) has already arrested several dispatch riders and impounded their motorcycles for violating traffic rules. Some of these traffic rules include riding against traffic, speeding, and reckless riding.
Mr Kalu, however, noted with dismay that despite the Directorate’s best efforts, these delivery riders have continued to disregard traffic rules. This disregard has now led the Directlrate to suspend the registration of more riders to prevent worsening public nuisance.
He also also revealed that the Directorate is considering limiting dispatch riders to specific routes, especially within the city center.
While he expressed his confidence that enforcing these new measures will help in addressing and curtailing the excesses of the dispatch riders, particularly in the city center, it however, remains to be seen how this would turn out.
See also: Fuel price hike: Dispatch riders say they now spend more and earn lesser for delivery