The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said it will intensify enforcement against illegal street racing in residential areas of Abuja, as authorities seek to improve road safety and protect residents.
Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said on Monday in Abuja that the administration would not tolerate organised street racing on roads within residential communities, warning that such activities endanger lives and property.
Speaking with journalists after inspecting ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja, Wike said while residents have the right to use public roads, those rights must not come at the expense of public safety.
He described illegal street racing in residential neighbourhoods as a threat to efforts to maintain a safe and orderly capital city, cautioning motorists against turning newly constructed roads into racing tracks.
“The racers are trying to show how beautiful the roads are, but then they forget there are aspects of racing that also pose danger to innocent citizens,” Wike said.
“I appeal to them to understand that their rights have limitations, and life is more important.”
He said the administration would ensure that street racing was not allowed in residential areas, adding that enthusiasts should instead use designated locations for the sport.
“If they want to engage in car racing, there are designated places for that, not within residential areas,” he said.
Although the FCTA has yet to receive formal petitions identifying specific locations where illegal racing occurs, Wike said the administration would rely on its internal enforcement mechanisms to address the issue.
He disclosed that the FCT Traffic Management Department would be directed to strengthen monitoring and enforcement, stressing that high-speed racing within residential neighbourhoods would be prohibited.
The minister also urged motorsport enthusiasts to confine racing activities to approved tracks and other designated non-residential locations where they would not pose risks to residents or other road users.
The move follows reports of increasing incidents of reckless driving and organised street racing in parts of Abuja, raising concerns over road safety in residential communities.
