Transporters For Tinubu 2027 Takes Drivers' Care Initiative to Zuba Motor Park
The Transporters for Tinubu 2027 support group has extended its Drivers' Care Initiative to Zuba Motor Park, bringing free health services, drug abuse sensitisation, and financial empowerment programmes to transport workers in one of the FCT's largest union hubs. The outreach follows the successful flag-off at Jabi Motor Park.
FCT Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Alhaji Musa Saidu, addressed drivers, emphasising the initiative's importance.
"We gather here to sensitise and assist our drivers because we cannot drive without eyes. This programme is our initiative, and we must support it," Saidu stated. He explained that Zuba was deliberately chosen due to its significance as a major union hub. "Zuba is the heart of the union in the FCT. I have mobilised our leaders so that our people can come," he added.
Officer Umar Aliu of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) warned drivers against substance abuse, revealing that 50% of road accidents in Nigeria are drug-related.
He highlighted commonly overlooked substances, including kolanut and alcohol, describing them as "socially acceptable drugs" that impair judgment when consumed excessively. He expressed concern over kolanut use among drivers to combat fatigue.
"This kolanut affects your brain gradually. It can lead to high blood pressure and sleep disorder," he warned. He also condemned Tramadol abuse, noting that the 250mg variant hawked in parks is banned and dangerous. "When you take it, your perception changes. You may see a person crossing and think it's a fly passing," he cautioned.
He urged drivers to avoid substances that endanger lives, leading the gathering in a chant: "Say no to drugs, say yes to life."
Eye care specialist Dr. Kelechi warned drivers against dangerous traditional remedies and self-medication.
"If you get a scratch, some people put urine in the eye. Urine has bacteria and causes more damage. Before you know it, the person cannot see again," he warned.
He cautioned against using eye drops from roadside chemists without prescription and against borrowing another person's reading glasses. "Eye is life. Without your eye, you cannot make money. Manage your eye well," he urged. Free eye testing and consultations commenced following his address.
Andy Okoho, representative of the Transporters Cooperative, outlined the financial benefits of membership, including savings for vehicle purchases, emergency funds, and access to low-interest loans within 48 hours.
He emphasised the cooperative's unique digital platform, which allows members to track savings via a mobile app. "When you register, you get an app. If you save 50,000, you wake up and see it on your phone," he explained.
The Zuba outreach forms part of the Transporters for Tinubu 2027 Drivers' Care Initiative, which aims to provide free eye testing, drug abuse sensitisation, and soft loans to transport workers across all 36 states and the FCT by June. The programme aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope agenda.