The Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has announced it is finalizing preparations to roll out an e-ticketing and central booking system aimed at enhancing road safety and reducing physical interactions between traffic operatives and motorists. In a Sunday interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, DRTS Director Abdulateef Bello emphasized the transformative impact of this technology-driven initiative.
Bello stated that the e-ticketing system, expected to begin implementation in the first quarter of 2025, will improve traffic enforcement while lessening the friction that often arises between DRTS personnel and the motoring public. To achieve this, DRTS has engaged multiple electronic traffic management and penalty system providers.
“We’re collaborating with various companies specializing in digital traffic solutions. Initially, they installed their devices at strategic locations within the FCT to demonstrate the system’s effectiveness in detecting and penalizing road infractions,” Bello explained. Following successful trials, DRTS will seek approval from the Abuja Investment Company and further oversight from the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, before moving toward full-scale implementation.
The director further highlighted how the e-ticketing system will work. “When an infraction occurs, our system will send a digital ticket directly to the driver’s mobile phone, along with information on the infraction and the penalty. This way, drivers can continue to their destinations without physical enforcement, yet they remain accountable for violations.”
Bello shared that the new system is already supported by DRTS’s recent appeal against a court ruling that limits their operatives’ authority to impound vehicles. “Our personnel are receiving specialized training to operate the e-ticketing system. Meanwhile, officers use the Abuja Inspector App to check motorist compliance on the road.”
With the backing of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, DRTS is also progressing toward a paperless motor vehicle administration system, anticipated to be a key feature in the FCT’s 2025 budget.
In urging compliance, Bello advised motorists to adhere to traffic laws, regularly update vehicle registrations, and renew driver’s licenses, reinforcing DRTS’s commitment to elevating the FCT’s road administration to a standard befitting its status as Nigeria’s capital.
