By Peterside Rejoice
The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory Command, CP Ajao S. Adewale, has cautioned divisional traffic officers and their counterparts across Abuja against unprofessional conduct in the discharge of their duties.
CP Adewale, who spoke on Saturday during a lecture for Divisional Traffic Officers, Motor Traffic Police (MOTOPOL) and other traffic personnel at the Command Headquarters, declared that traffic management was one of the most visible measures of the civility of any city.
The lecture, which was anchored on the theme “Humanity First”, stressed professionalism, discipline and service delivery, with the CP warning officers against practices capable of bringing the Force into disrepute.
The police boss expressed dissatisfaction with the current performance of traffic officers, lamenting that many were not living up to their responsibilities. He said:
“Traffic is one of the first points of interaction between the police and the public. Officers must therefore be conscious that their conduct reflects the image of the entire Nigeria Police Force. Indiscipline, unethical behaviour, and lack of professionalism will not be tolerated under my watch.”
The CP, who had personally toured several parts of Abuja the previous week to monitor traffic flow during peak periods, identified 30 major traffic hotspots across the FCT, including Wuse, Area 1 Roundabout, Jikwoyi, Karu, Kurudu, AYA, Apo Resettlement, Gudu, Galadima, Dawaki and Kubwa.
He directed officers to ensure visibility at these critical points and guarantee a free flow of traffic at all times. He also charged them to raise their standards by appearing neat on duty, reporting to their posts early, managing peak traffic effectively, and promptly removing obstructions from the highways.
CP Adewale further warned against the growing menace of reckless driving within the city, particularly driving against traffic and indiscriminate picking and dropping of passengers on the highways, stressing that offenders must be dealt with decisively.
Condemning the unprofessional act of officers jumping into vehicles of offenders or attempting to seize steering wheels, he described such practices as dangerous, unacceptable, and contrary to police ethics.
As part of renewed efforts to sanitize traffic management, the CP announced the launch of Operation “Keep Traffic Moving”, a special enforcement programme designed to ensure constant flow of traffic in Abuja. He also set up a surveillance team to monitor traffic officers and arrest any who breach his directives.
He appealed to residents of the FCT to obey traffic regulations, respect traffic officers, and desist from offering inducements to policemen, stressing that such acts are unlawful and encourage corruption.
The police boss assured Abuja residents of improved visibility and effective traffic control across the territory, urging them to report suspicious activities or misconduct via the Command’s emergency lines: 08032003913, 08061581938.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja.
