The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced plans to collaborate with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to introduce drug testing for commercial vehicle drivers as part of efforts to reduce drug-related road accidents.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, disclosed this on Thursday in Benin during a stakeholder engagement themed “Addressing the Drug Problem in Edo.”
Marwa said some commercial drivers take drugs to stay awake and make more trips in a bid to earn more money without considering the effects on their health and driving abilities.
He explained that drug use could impair their judgment, cause confusion on the road and lead to fatal accidents involving innocent passengers.
Marwa urged transport unions to prohibit alcohol and drug consumption in motor parks, noting that road transport workers in Edo had pledged to cooperate with the agency.
He also reiterated his proposal for mandatory drug testing for intending couples as part of marriage preparations, alongside existing HIV and genotype tests. According to him, prospective spouses who test positive should undergo rehabilitation and present negative drug test results before their marriages can proceed.
The NDLEA chairman further disclosed that the agency arrested at least 1,200 suspects and seized over 30 tonnes of illicit substances in Edo State in the previous year. He put drug-use prevalence in the state at about 15 per cent among people aged 15 to 64.
He called on parents to monitor their children’s behaviour and seek early intervention when they notice signs of substance abuse. He also urged schools to establish drug-free clubs and counselling units.
Marwa further called for tougher penalties for drug offenders, disclosing that a proposed amendment to the NDLEA Act, which had passed its second reading at the National Assembly, seeks to introduce prison sentences of between 15 and 25 years and remove the option of fines.
