No fewer than 80 vehicles were distributed to beneficiaries to use as taxis in the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday.
The brand new taxis, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike said is part of the efforts to empower youths under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking said at the FCT Renewed Hope Youth Empowerment Programme, noted that past administrations did not think of women and youth inclusiveness, but President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has thought it wise to create the youth Secretariat as well as the women affairs secretariat to empower them.
The Minister said: “They are not paying a dime. 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 encouraged the beneficiaries not to be ashamed that they are being empowered to be taxi drivers, adding that many Nigerians who reject taxi driving jobs at home gladly embrace such when they travel abroad.
Wike noted that the vehicles were brand new and that they were given free as the government was not demanding pay back for the vehicles: “These vehicles are brand new, ‘tier leather’ vehicles. They (beneficiaries) are not paying a kobo. This is the government’s support for the youths to reduce the cost of transportation in the city. We will fix the price because we bought the vehicles. When fully operational, it will transform Abuja like other modern cities. Those areas where the vehicles will operate, bikes and keke Napep will be phased out.
“Abuja should compete with other cities in the world. We are not banning keke Napep in Abuja, but they will no longer operate in the three districts of Guzape, Maitama and Asokoro. We made sure all area councils are involved in the bidding for the vehicles. Also, the bus terminals under construction in the FCT will be commissioned by January next year where all vehicles will operate from.
“We are bringing more vehicles; all commercial drivers will be profiled by security agencies. It’s time for keke Napep and bike operators to prepare for their exit in locations covered by the vehicles, we must have a modern city.”
