The House of Representatives has called on all levels of government to promptly ban the sale of alcoholic drinks and other drug-related substances at motor parks nationwide.
The lawmakers also urged the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to extend its services to motor parks and conduct random tests to ensure that commercial drivers are not impaired.
The motion, introduced by Rep. Abbas Adigun (PDP-Oyo) during Thursday’s plenary, emphasized that the consumption of alcohol and psychoactive drugs could impair driving skills, increase the risk of accidents, and endanger lives and property.
Adigun noted that it’s common practice globally to restrict alcohol sales to pubs, not public transport areas, and raised concerns over motor parks becoming hotspots for alcohol and illicit drugs.
“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,” he said.
The House further urged private transport operators to discourage the sale of alcohol within their parks and called on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to intensify efforts to identify and prosecute illicit drug dealers and users in motor parks.
Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, directed the Committee on Drugs and Narcotics to oversee compliance with these recommendations.
