By Andrew Ahmad | Abuja
Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, is often praised for its picturesque beauty and calm environment. But beneath the surface lies a growing menace that’s turning daily commuting into a nightmare for residents — touts who harass and extort motorists and passengers with reckless abandon.
Brandishing ID cards bearing the name of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), these individuals have gained notoriety for operating unchecked in major parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Areas like Area 3, Area 10, Banex Junction, Berger Roundabout, and Wuse Market have become notorious hotspots, where motorists live in fear of being accosted by these street enforcers.
Their method is both brazen and intimidating. Once they spot a potential “offender,” they block the vehicle’s path, forcibly enter it, and often remove back seats or seize car keys — all in the name of enforcing road regulations. The demand? Hefty payments ranging from ₦15,000 to ₦25,000 before the vehicle is released.
Terror on the Roads: Victims Speak Out
“I was just trying to make a call,” recalled one Abuja resident, who had parked briefly along the service lane between Area 3 and Area 1 Bridge on a Saturday morning. “Next thing, these guys surrounded my car, took my keys, and ordered me out. When I saw a VIO officer nearby, I felt some relief, thinking he’d step in. But shockingly, he told me, ‘Oga, no drag with them — them dey control here.’”
The victim was then marched to what the touts called their ‘office’ — a tree shade in Area 1 Park — where he was presented with a laminated price list of offenses and asked to pay ₦25,000 for “wrong parking.” He managed to negotiate his way out with ₦15,000.
Another motorist, Mrs. Mary, shared a similar ordeal. “I had stopped at Area 3 to drop a friend when they descended on my car. They said I parked in a no-parking zone, which was a lie. When I refused to pay, they threatened to smash my windows. I had to call someone to come and settle them.”
Even passengers are not spared. Mr. Emmanuel Useni, who had just arrived in Abuja from Lagos, recounted how touts stormed his vehicle at Berger Roundabout, demanding ₦5,000 from each passenger, claiming the driver hadn’t paid a “movement tax.”
An Atmosphere of Fear and Frustration
“I now think twice before driving around Abuja,” said Ms. Comfort, a private car owner. “You never know which area is safe to park in or when these touts will pounce. It’s like they have legal backing to extort people.”
While the financial burden of these illegal demands weighs heavily on victims, the psychological toll is even worse — a constant sense of fear and helplessness in a city that’s supposed to be secure and law-abiding.
Authorities Respond — With Denial and Promises
Despite numerous complaints, authorities have been slow to act decisively. A senior staff member at the FCT Transport Secretariat, who requested anonymity, admitted that the issue had reached their desk.
“We are aware and are taking steps,” he said. “More security personnel have been deployed to areas where these activities are rampant. We’re also engaging the NURTW to caution their members.”
Kingsley Madaki, media aide to the AMAC Chairman, distanced the council from the touts. “Those harassing people on the roads are not our staff. They may claim to represent AMAC, DOAS, or the Transport Secretariat, but they are impostors. Our trained personnel do not extort people.”
Still, residents remain unconvinced.
“We’ve heard all this before,” said Hassan Hussein, a commercial driver. “But nothing has changed. These guys are still on the roads every day, collecting illegal money from innocent Nigerians.”
Finger Pointing: NURTW Denies Involvement
Sunday Sule, a member of the NURTW, denied knowledge of the extortion practices. “If this is really happening, we’ll look into it. Our members are not supposed to be involved in such things.”
But many believe otherwise. Donald Iyobosa, a civil servant, said the touts who harassed him at Area 1 flashed their NURTW ID cards. “They acted confidently — like they had the union’s blessing. If NURTW says they don’t know, then they’re either pretending or deliberately looking away.”
The Toll on Daily Life and the Economy
For drivers like Mohammed Yusuf, who works with a ride-hailing app, the impact is beyond personal stress — it’s economic.
“We’ve had to hike our fares to cover the bribes we’re forced to pay. Passengers complain, but they don’t know we’re being squeezed from both ends. It’s becoming difficult to survive.”
As Abuja’s residents continue to endure daily threats from these touts, the question remains — who will bell the cat? Until decisive action is taken, many fear the streets of the FCT will remain unsafe, not because of crime, but due to extortion that is all too visible, yet remains largely unchecked.