It was a busy but orderly scene on Friday at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Motor Park, where hundreds of commercial drivers gathered not to load passengers, but to have their eyes checked.
The occasion was the grand finale of the Drivers' Care Initiative, organised by the Transporters for Tinubu 2027, which has spent the last six days moving through major parks in the Federal Capital Territory to provide free eye screening and eyeglasses to transport workers.
For many of the drivers who spend long hours behind the wheel, the opportunity was a welcome relief.
Standing in for the park chairman, Prince Ola Amos, Mr. Aliu Abualdazeez told the crowd that the initiative was addressing a problem many of them live with daily but cannot afford to treat.
"Today, we are witnessing a huge benefit to us. I know some of us have eyes problems. If you go to the hospital, you are going to spend money to check the eye and get eyeglass. But what they are going to do for us today is to test our eyes and give us eyeglass for free. We are not paying for it," he said.
He went on to explain how the glasses would make a real difference on the road. "The problem you are having driving at night when an oncoming vehicle puts light on your eyes, the eyeglass will defend that for you. If you cannot read small letters, you will get it. And if you cannot see far, you will get it."
The programme director, Mrs. Chinwe Uwagbuete, said the initiative was the brainchild of Prince Segun Obayendo, national coordinator of Transporters for Tinubu 2027. She noted that beyond the eye tests, drivers also received sensitisation on drug abuse from the NDLEA and were informed about loan opportunities available through the Transporters Cooperative Society.
The outreach kicked off on February 26 at Jabi Park Second Gate, moving through Zuba, Jabi Park First Gate, Dei Dei, and Nyanya before wrapping up at the airport park. Members of the major transport unions; RTEAN, NARTO, and NURTW, all turned out at the various stops.
With the FCT tour now concluded, organisers say they are taking the initiative on the road again—this time to all 36 states across the country.
