The House of Representatives, on Thursday, called on the Federal, States and Local Government areas to immediately ban the sale of alcoholic drinks and other drug related substances in and around motor parks in Nigeria.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by the Chairman of House, Committee on Narcotic Drugs, Rep. Abass A. Adigun (Agboworin), lawmaker representing Ibadan South East/NorthEast federal constituency during a plenary session.
The two-term lawmaker, while moving the motion, expressed worry over how motor parks have become sale points of alcohol and illicit drugs where drivers, saying that “prior to take-off they consume these substances thereby endangering the lives of the passengers.”
He maintained that substances that could be abused are limited to the pubs and not in parks and not public transport area.
Agboworin said, “consumption of psychoactive drugs and alcohol increases the risk of motor accidents, leading to loss of driving coordination, poor judgement, poor vision and consequently loss of live and property.”
He condemned how alcoholic beverages are freely available and openly displayed at motor parks except for narcotic drugs that are traded and consumed clandestinely.
“Many drivers take alcohol or hard drugs before embarking on their journey simply because they are being sold at the motor parks thereby endangering the lives of passengers and pedestrians,” Agboworin stated.
Speaking further on the development, the lawmaker noted that a report by the Federal Road Safety Commission indicates that 90 per cent of road accidents in the country are caused by the consumption of alcoholic drinks and hard drugs, among other factors.
The Green Chamber of the National Assembly, following the adoption of the motion, urged the Federal Road Safety Commission to extend its services to the parks; to ensure drivers are not under any influence and carry out random test for drivers to ensure that they are not under any influence.
It equally urged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to beam its searchlight in motor parks across the country to arrest and prosecute dealers and consumers of illicit drugs.
The House, therefore, mandated the Committee on Drugs and Narcotic to ensure compliance.
