Taxis in Nigeria’s capital city ordered to be air-conditioned by October

Nigeria’s capital city Abuja has ordered that all taxis must be air-conditioned by October as part of policies to regulate the movement of vehicles within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“All passenger service (commercial) vehicles must be registered in Abuja and must carry FCT number plate with effect from Oct. 1, 2018. All Taxis operating within the FCT must be air-conditioned on or before Oct. 1, 2018,” says Kayode Opeifa, the Transport Secretary of the area who was quoted by the News Agency of Nigeria.

He told Licensed Taxi Operators in a meeting on Monday that all commercial vehicles including tricycles and motorcycles must have red number plates, must be in possession of a valid driver’s licence and must be certified by the Secretariat after meeting the necessary requirements including evidence of tax payment in the FCT.

“Tricycles are to operate only at the designated routes as approved and assigned to the particular operator by the transportation secretariat. Tricycles and Motorcycles are to be operated only by riders with valid FCTA issued Riders Card,’’ he added.

These directives are part of plans to ensure security and regulate the transportation system in the FCT where the government business is conducted. Until recently, the policy which was first introduced in 2013 has faced rejection by transport operators.

Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa and has high importation of vehicles which flood the streets causing heavy traffic. Commercial tricycles and motorcycles are also partly to be blamed for the traffic congestion.