The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) has pledged firm support for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in its nationwide crackdown on illicit drug trade.
The NARTO’s National President, Alhaji Yusuf Othman made the pledge during a courtesy visit to the chairman, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa in Abuja.
According to a statement by the NDLEA spokesman, Mr. Femi Babafemi, the NARTO President expressed the association’s commitment to playing a proactive role in securing Nigeria’s road transport system from exploitation by drug traffickers.
“Our trucks and passenger vehicles span every corner of this country. While they serve as vital economic lifelines, they have also, unfortunately, become occasional tools in the hands of criminal elements. We are determined to change that narrative.”
Alhaji Othman proposed a robust collaboration framework to tackle the problem and central to his strategy is a comprehensive sensitization programme for drivers and transport operators to help them identify and report suspicious cargo or behavior.
He also recommended the establishment of intelligence-sharing systems between NARTO and the NDLEA, alongside the deployment of liaison officers to major transport hubs across Nigeria.
Alhaji Othman also called for large-scale public awareness campaigns to educate road users on the risks and consequences of drug trafficking, leveraging NARTO’s expansive presence across the country.
“Our highways must not become highways of harm. We envision a transport industry that champions safety, security, and the wellbeing of our people.”
Responding, Brig. Gen. Marwa welcomed the proposals, describing them as timely and strategic.
He lauded the association’s willingness to be part of the solution and emphasized the importance of due diligence in the hiring of drivers to avoid unintentional complicity in drug-related crimes.
The NDLEA Chairman, further warned transport owners of the risks of vehicle loss, either through criminal forfeiture or accidents caused by drug-impaired drivers and urged them to tighten internal vetting procedures.
“I’ve had a long-standing relationship with NARTO, and I know the influence you wield. NDLEA is ready to partner with you, especially at the parks and depots where these challenges often begin”.
The statement adds that, the renewed alliance between NARTO and the NDLEA signals a critical step in Nigeria’s multi-sectoral approach to tackling drug trafficking and stresses the role of the transport industry in safeguarding national security.
Reporting by Nosa Aituamen