Lagos moves to curb road crashes with free eye, drug tests

Commercial drivers across Lagos have applauded the Lagos State Government for rolling out a comprehensive road safety and welfare initiative featuring free eye screening, drug tests and complimentary recertification training, aimed at improving driver fitness and reducing accidents on the state’s roads.

The programme was officially flagged off on Monday at the Lilypond Terminal, Ijora, with drivers describing the intervention as timely and impactful.

The initiative, which will benefit 10,000 drivers with free health checks and 2,000 drivers with recertification training, is part of the state’s broader commitment to safer transportation.

Speaking at the event, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Transport and Logistics, Hassan Adekoya, said the scheme would be implemented across four major driver parks, beginning with Lilypond Terminal before extending to the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Obalende and Iyana Iba.

Adekoya explained that the programme is a social inclusion initiative embedded in the THEMES+ Agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, noting that professional drivers are central to the state’s economic productivity.

He said prioritising the health and competence of drivers directly enhances road safety and protects lives.

He added that the approval of free eye screening and drug tests for 10,000 drivers, alongside free recertification training for 2,000 drivers through the state’s Drivers’ Institute, underscores the government’s commitment to the welfare of those operating within the transport sector.

The General Manager of the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute, Mrs Afusat Tiamiyu, said the institute was fully prepared to deliver the free recertification training.

She described drivers as a critical link in the logistics value chain, stressing that improved training and health standards would translate to safer roads and more efficient movement of goods and people.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of Vision Spring, Mrs Abimbola Ogundirahun, emphasised the importance of good eyesight for drivers, describing vision as a vital safety factor.

She noted that despite the installation of road signs and safety infrastructure across Lagos, poor eyesight could render such measures ineffective and increase accident risks.

Ogundirahun commended the Drivers’ Care initiative for providing free eye screening and corrective eyeglasses to drivers diagnosed with visual impairments, urging drivers to embrace regular eye examinations as part of their safety routine.

Chairman of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Lagos Chapter, Alhaji Kayode Ogunowo, advised drivers to avoid unsafe habits that could endanger lives, while also praising the state government for facilitating credit schemes that enable truck owners to acquire Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles.

A representative of United Bank for Africa, Ms Lolade Bobagun, said the bank was ready to provide tailored banking services for drivers, including the issuance of free, branded ATM cards funded by the Lagos State Government.

The event also featured substance abuse sensitisation and free drug testing conducted by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, led by Assistant Commander Dick Mulikat Adunni. Drivers were warned against illicit drug use, which officials said could impair vision, judgment and overall road safety.

Other dignitaries at the event included the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Transport, Education and Innovation, Mr Tobi Idowu, representatives of transport unions and key stakeholders in the transportation sector.