RismadarVoice Reporters
August 4, 2026
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said commercial tricycles, popularly known as Keke Napep, and motorcycles, known as Okada, will not be allowed to operate within the Abuja city centre.
Wike made the declaration on Tuesday during his monthly media briefing in Abuja, describing the activities of the operators as a growing security concern rather than merely a nuisance.
He said the decision followed deliberations at a security council meeting, where authorities agreed that restrictions were necessary to address security concerns associated with the vehicles.
According to the minister, he had approved the decision and directed security agencies to identify areas within the capital where Keke Napep and Okada operations would be prohibited.
He, however, acknowledged that imposing a blanket ban across the entire Federal Capital Territory would be difficult to enforce.
“I have told the security people to map out areas where we do not need the Keke Napep and the motorcycles,” Wike said, adding that the restriction would particularly apply to the Abuja city centre.
The minister also addressed the presence of destitute persons and beggars on major streets across the capital.
He said the FCT Administration was working to secure approval and logistics to remove them from the streets, but admitted that previous efforts had not produced lasting results because many of those removed eventually returned.
Wike rejected calls for the FCT Administration to provide permanent accommodation for destitute persons, arguing that such a policy could encourage people from neighbouring states to relocate to Abuja.
He questioned how the FCT would sustain such a programme if it had to accommodate people coming from states including Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger and Kaduna.
The minister said the administration would continue to seek practical solutions to the challenges while balancing security, public order and the needs of residents.
