Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has announced plans by the Federal Capital Territory Administration to gradually phase out tricycle operations in parts of the Abuja city centre.

Wike stated this on Thursday during the flag-off of the FCT Renewed Hope Youth Empowerment Programme.

Wike stressed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the lives of FCT youth through the Renewed Hope Youth Empowerment Initiative.

“I’m not saying there will be no more Keke. No, you will go to certain areas. But for now, we will try to see the pilot scheme in Maitama, Guzape and Asokoro.

“Let us see how it will work, and by the grace of God, it will work well because Mr. President means well for everybody,” he said.

Noting that some of the tricycle and taxi operators in Abuja were informants to criminals, the minister also disclosed plans to conduct security profiling of commercial buses and taxi operators within the FCT, adding that they must also operate with the Abuja taxi colour.

“From January next year, nobody will operate as a taxi driver or a bus driver without approval from the security, without security profiling you, and without the Abuja colour.

“So, there is nothing like using any vehicle on the road. From January, we will not allow that. We would have also brought in more vehicles so that we wouldn’t have a shortage,” he added.

Wike charged the Mandate Secretary, Youth Development Secretariat, Abdullahi Ango, with devising programmes and proposals that will benefit the youth, such as skill acquisition, stressing that he would not approve money for conferences that would not help the youth.

The minister also disclosed plans to revive the abandoned skills acquisition centre in Nyanya, Abuja, where youths could be trained in ICT and other areas.