Awka, Nigeria – The Federal Road Safety
Corps (FRSC) has strengthened partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) towards restricting hawking, sales and consumption of illicit drugs and substances at motor parks.
The Anambra State Sector Commander, FRSC, Mrs Joyce Alexander, made the call on Saturday, during a courtesy call on the office of the State Commander of NDLEA, Mr Ogbonna Onyishi, in Awka.
Alexander said the partnership with NDLEA was to checkmate drunk driving in the state.
She said the first phase of the operation would focus on advisory, enlightenment and cautioning of erring drivers, while the second phase would be full enforcement.
“This is a familiarisation visit to consolidate on the already existing relationship between FRSC and NDLEA in a bid to sustain partnership and collaboration with sister agencies in the state.
“The FRSC has the mandate to check drunk driving and apprehend drivers found to have violated the Driving Under Influence of Drugs traffic rule, but can not prohibit the sales of these stimulants or drugs.
“Drunk driving accidents are the cause of many deaths and injuries to Nigerians and there is need to increase awareness on the dangers of drinking and driving and to motivate behavioural change among drivers.
“With your agency, we hope to achieve restrictions on hawking, sales and consumption of illicit drugs and substances at motor parks,” she said.
Responding, Onyishi assured the Sector Commander FRSC of his Agency’s readiness to engage in the proposed joint operations.
“There is no set down rules to prohibit sales of alcohol because it is socially accepted. However, other drugs like Indian hemp, cannabis, etc, can be tackled or restricted at the motor parks,” he said.
