The Lagos State Government says its Drivers’ Care Initiative, which will ensure drivers’ training, substance-abuse awareness and free eye examination will improve road safety and strengthen its economy.

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About 2,000 commercial drivers are expected to be trained free in the next 48 hours under the initiative.

The Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Transport and Logistics, Mr Hassan Adekoya, said this at the maiden edition of the state’s Drivers’ Care Initiative on Monday, in Lagos.

“Our drivers are the backbone of our transport system. When they are healthy and at alert, our roads are safer and our economy is stronger.

“Through drug testing, substance-abuse awareness, eye examinations, and free corrective glasses, we are protecting not just drivers, but lives.

“We are targeting 10,000 drivers to benefit from this Initiative,” he said.

Adekoya said that the programme demonstrated that the government was committed to promoting safety and human dignity.

The General Manager, Lagos State Drivers Institute, Mrs Afusat Tiamiyu, said that the governor had directed the institute to train 2,000 commercial drivers free in the next 48 hours.

Tiamiyu said that it showed that the state government accorded much importance to the Drivers Care Initiative.

Mrs Mulikat Dick, Assistant Commander of Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, said that drug intake by drivers also affected passengers.

“The implication of substance use is enormous.

“It does not allow one to have a very good perception of incidents, it destroys the internal organ. People who take drugs do things that are abnormal,” she said.

Also, Mr Kayode Odunowo, Lagos State Chairman, National Association of Road Transport Operators (NARTO), said that the initiative was a welcomed one.

“This is the first of its kind since I joined NARTO for the past 40 something years ago. No government had initiated such a programme, we are very grateful to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

“I advise our drivers to always appreciate the government and be careful when driving. They should not drink while driving, they should avoid wreckless driving,” he said.

The Country Manager, Vision Spring, Mrs Abimbola Ogundirahun, said that healthy eyes were crucial to driving.

“We cannot overlook the eye health of drivers; so, I advise that every driver should take advantage of this opportunity and get his eyes checked.

“This is because if they see well they can drive well,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the programme featured free eye tests and corrective eyeglasses for 10,000 truck and other commercial drivers.