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.
He maintained that tackling drug abuse required a collective approach, urging all stakeholders to intensify their commitment to prevention, enforcement and rehabilitation.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Office of the Wife of the Edo State Governor and Chairperson of the State Drug Control Committee, Mrs Edesili Okpebholo-Anani, described substance abuse as an increasing threat to families and communities.
She said the consequences extended beyond the health of affected individuals to include financial difficulties for families struggling to fund the rehabilitation of relatives battling addiction.
Okpebholo-Anani commended the NDLEA’s alternative development initiative, which encourages cannabis farmers to abandon illegal cultivation for legitimate economic activities.
She described the programme as an innovative strategy for addressing the economic factors driving illicit cannabis cultivation and disclosed that Edo State was interested in adopting the initiative.
She added that the state had received a positive response from the agency regarding the proposed collaboration.
Also speaking, the Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Dr Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the stakeholders’ engagement was designed to strengthen intelligence-sharing, public awareness, prevention, enforcement and rehabilitation efforts.
He called for sustained cooperation among government institutions, traditional and religious leaders, the judiciary, security agencies, civil society organisations and local communities to achieve a drug-free state.
During an interactive session, Marwa also expressed concern over what he described as inadequate judicial deterrence against drug-related offences.
He alleged that some suspects returned to the illicit drug trade after securing bail or paying fines, thereby undermining efforts to combat the menace.
The NDLEA chairman disclosed that a proposed amendment to the agency’s enabling Act, which had passed second reading at the National Assembly, sought to introduce prison sentences ranging from 15 to 25 years for specified drug offences and eliminate the option of fines.
The proposed amendment, if passed into law, would significantly strengthen the agency’s punitive framework against drug-related crimes.
The stakeholders’ engagement was held under the theme, “Addressing the Drug Problem in Edo.”
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
'