Daud Olatunji
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Federal Road Safety Corps are collaborating to introduce mandatory drug testing as part of the licensing requirements for commercial vehicle drivers in a move aimed at curbing drug-related road accidents.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), disclosed this on Thursday in Benin, Edo State, during a stakeholders’ engagement on addressing the drug problem in the state.
Marwa said the proposed policy was informed by concerns over the increasing use of illicit substances by commercial drivers, particularly those who take drugs to remain awake and undertake more journeys in a bid to maximise their earnings.
He warned that such practices could impair drivers’ judgement, concentration and ability to make sound decisions on the highway, putting passengers and other road users at grave risk.
According to him, some drivers resort to drugs because of the pressure to complete more trips within a short period without considering the potentially fatal consequences.
“Because the drivers want to go and come back quickly, make more money, they take more drugs without knowing the effects it will have in the brain,” Marwa said.
He explained that substance abuse could cause drivers to become confused, sleepy or lose their ability to navigate safely, sometimes resulting in fatal crashes involving innocent passengers.
“They get sleepy on the way or the road becomes too confusing for them, they take the wrong lane, and they perish with innocent passengers on board,” he added.
The NDLEA boss called on transport unions, particularly the National Union of Road Transport Workers, to enforce strict measures against the consumption of illicit drugs and alcohol in motor parks.
He said he had engaged transport workers in Edo State on the proposed intervention and received assurances of cooperation.
Marwa stressed that the fight against substance abuse could not be left to law enforcement agencies alone, insisting that transport operators, government institutions, families, schools and communities must work together to address the problem.
Meanwhile, the NDLEA chairman disclosed that the agency arrested no fewer than 1,200 suspected drug offenders and seized more than 30 tonnes of illicit substances in Edo State in the previous year.
He also put the prevalence of drug use in the state at approximately 15 per cent among people aged between 15 and 64, describing the situation as unacceptable.
Marwa urged parents and guardians to pay closer attention to changes in their children’s behaviour and seek professional intervention whenever they suspected substance abuse.
He also called on schools to establish drug-free clubs and counselling units to educate students on the dangers of substance abuse and provide early intervention for those at risk.
The NDLEA boss further urged the media to discourage the glorification of drug consumption by entertainers and other influential public figures, warning that such portrayals could encourage young people to experiment with harmful substances.
Beyond commercial drivers, Marwa reiterated his controversial proposal for mandatory drug testing of intending couples as part of marriage preparations, alongside existing HIV and genotype screening.
He said prospective spouses who tested positive for illicit drugs should undergo rehabilitation and provide evidence of a negative test before proceeding with their marriages.
“It doesn’t mean you kill the union. It only means: what does it mean? Rehab,” he said.
