July 24, (THEWILL) — Leaders of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) have pledged to work with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to curb the use of truck and passenger vehicles to traffic illicit drugs.
The commitment, which is part of an ongoing offensive action against substance abuse and trafficking across Nigeria, was made on Thursday by the National President of NARTO, Alhaji Yusuf Lawal Othman, when he led other leaders of the association on a courtesy visit to the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) at the Agency’s National Headquarters in Abuja.
Commending Marwa’s courage, vision, and patriotism in the leadership of the Agency, Othman said, “This visit today is not just ceremonial; it is purposeful and timely. It reflects our deep appreciation of NDLEA’s efforts and our readiness as a key stakeholder in the road transport sector to align with your mission.
“NARTO is acutely aware of the burden we carry. Our truck and passenger vehicles traverse every region of the country, serving as the arteries of commerce and connectivity. However, we also recognise that these same routes are occasionally exploited by criminal elements to traffic illicit substances. We at NARTO are committed to reversing that narrative. We believe that collaboration between our association and the NDLEA is both necessary and urgent, and we are ready to play our part.”
To achieve the success of the collaboration, Othman proposed “sensitisation and training of NARTO drivers and transport operators on identifying and reporting suspicious cargo or behavior; establishment of joint intelligence-sharing mechanisms to monitor drug trafficking routes and tactics; deployment of NDLEA liaison officers at major NARTO parks and depots across the federation, and public awareness campaigns, using our national footprint to educate drivers and passengers on the dangers of drug trafficking and abuse.”
While reaffirming NARTOs unwavering stand on the drug scourge, Othman said, “Our highways must not be used to harm our nation. We want to see a transport industry that supports security, safety, and the health of our communities.”
In his response, Marwa assured of the preparedness of NDLEA to work with NARTO.
“I have had a good relationship with NARTO since my days in Lagos, and I’m glad you’re concerned about the drug problem in Nigeria. We are more than ready to collaborate with you at your parks and depots”, he said.
Marwa urged road transport owners to conduct background checks on drivers they give vehicles to, ensuring they are not linked to any drug trafficking syndicate or hooked on illicit substances. This, he said, will save the vehicle owners the risk of losing them to avoidable crashes or the government in case they are caught being used as instruments of illicit drug trafficking.
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