By pmnews
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State,
southwest Nigeria , has raised alarm that
commuter bus drivers in the state now take
cocaine and engage in other substance abuse,
warning that it is a dangerous trend that is akin
to taking a gamble with people ’ s lives . He said
this must stop.
According to the governor , at least 162 bus
drivers in two motor parks in the state tested
positive for cocaine and marijuana while 996
others in three parks were found to be driving
under the influence of excessive alcohol.
Fashola made this known on Thursday during a
Motor Park Health and Safety Awareness
Campaign organised by the State Ministries of
Health and Transportation in partnership with
Guinness Nigeria Plc. The event took place at
the New Garrage Motor Park, Bariga .
According to Fashola , tests conducted on 988 bus
drivers at Oyingbo Motor Park revealed that 59
drivers tested positive for cocaine while another
test conducted on bus drivers at Iyana Ipaja
Motor Park showed that out of the 1 , 025 drivers
tested, 103 of them tested positive for cocaine
and marijuana .
He explained further that 884 motor drivers
were screened at Ojota Motor Park, where 239
of them , representing 27 % of those screened ,
were hypertensive, while 86 people representing
10% of those screened were found to be
diabetic ; 60 drivers representing 7 % tested
positive to substance abuse, and 287 people
representing 32 % of those screened had
excessive blood alcohol level .
At the Oyingbo motor park campaign, 988 people
were tested out of which 363 or 37% of the
people were hypertensive ; 156 or 16 % had
diabetes, 59 or 6 % tested positive for cocaine
or marijuana , and 494 or 50 % tested positive
for alcohol.
While at the campaign at Iyana Ipaja motor park ,
1 , 025 people were screened and 162 people or
16% had hypertension, 71 people or 7 % had
diabetes, 103 or 10 % tested positive for cocaine
or marijuana and 215 or 21 % had excessive
alcohol in their blood system , he disclosed.
Fashola said since the inception of the campaign
in 2011, at least 2 , 500 public transportation and
commuter vehicle drivers had been screened for
blood alcohol content , substance abuse,
hypertension and diabetes as well as health
education and enlightenment.
The governor added that the latest campaign at
the New Garage Motor Park, Bariga which
started on Tuesday had the drivers being tested
for high blood pressure , diabetes , cancer
screening and providing counselling and guidance
for all the park operators and drivers in the
park .
“Let us resolve today that we will stop taking a
gamble with our lives . Every time you cross the
highway, every time you drink Alomo and
Paraga , every time you get behind the steering
wheels with drugs in your system , it is like
putting a loaded gun to one ’ s head and
wondering if it can kill or not. It is a huge risk
to take and we should stop taking that risk, ”
said Fashola , who was represented by his deputy ,
Adejoke Orelope- Adefulire .
Fashola urged commuter vehicle drivers to desist
from taking alcohol, drugs or other related
substance before going behind the wheel ,
stressing that evidence abounded that road
traffic accidents were influenced and
precipitated by substance abuse which impair
driver ’ s ability to manage and manipulate a
vehicle well.
He noted that the Motor Park Health and
Safety Awareness Campaign Programme was an
initiative of his administration to raise
awareness about responsible consumption of
alcohol and initiate change in attitude among
motor park drivers .
“The aim of the initiative is to reduce road
traffic accidents , thereby ensuring the safety
of drivers , passengers and other road users . The
campaign is also aimed at increasing awareness
about mental health and what can be done not
only to prevent it but also to cure it.
It is part
of the composite health care plan for the
sustainability of our people as well as improving
their life expectancy rate , ” he explained .
Commissioner for Transportation , Mr . Kayode
Opeifa, urged drivers to dislodge drug and
alcohol hawkers from their parks and also
cautioned against substance and alcohol abuse,
adding that abuse of these controlled drugs was
responsible for the high rate of road traffic
accidents.
He noted that the Drivers ’ Institutes located in
Epe, Ikorodu , Oshodi , Ikeja and Lagos Island
were built to train motorists both private and
public, about techniques , driving methods and
driving habits .
Opeifa added that the state government would
from 1 October , 2013 begin the enforcement of
accreditation of all professional and commuter
vehicle drivers , stressing that any commuter
vehicle driver that does not have certification
of the Drivers ’ Institute would not be allowed to
operate in the state .
—Kazeem Ugbodaga
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