Starting in January 2025, taxi and bus drivers in Abuja will need to get security clearances from the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services. This decision was announced by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, as part of efforts to combat kidnapping and robbery incidents known as ‘one-chance’ crimes in the city.

Wike stated that only drivers who have passed these security checks will be allowed to operate in the Federal Capital Territory. He shared this information during the FCT Renewed Hope Youth Empowerment Programme held in Abuja.

He said, “Most of the Keke Napep and most of the motorcycles are informants. Everybody here who is a beneficiary is being profiled by security.

“And so what we are coming up with is that from January next year, there will be nobody that will operate as a taxi driver or a bus driver without having approval from security, with security profiling you and without going about with Abuja colour. Nothing like using any vehicle on the road. No, we won’t allow that. We won’t allow that starting in January.

“We will take the vehicle number, the names of the drivers, and the rest so everybody will have confidence that this is the vehicle I’m entering in case anything happens.”

Additionally, Wike presented new cars to some beneficiaries, encouraging them to consider taxi driving as a career. He pointed out that many Nigerians who might not accept taxi jobs at home are often willing to take similar jobs when they go abroad.

“They are not paying a dime. No, the government is saying this is our support to feed your family and reduce the cost of transportation in the city… Abuja should compete with other cities in the world,” he said.
 

This initiative aims to improve safety and trust in the transportation system within the capital city, making it a safer environment for both drivers and passengers.