The Nigerian House of Representatives has called on federal, state, and local governments to immediately ban the sale of alcoholic drinks and illicit drug-related substances in and around motor parks nationwide.
In addition, the House urged the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to extend its oversight to these parks and conduct random drug and alcohol tests for drivers to ensure their sobriety on the job.
The call followed a motion presented by Rep. Abbas Adigun (PDP-Oyo) during Thursday’s plenary session. Rep. Adigun expressed concern over the widespread availability of alcohol and psychoactive substances at motor parks, which he argued could increase the risk of road accidents due to impaired judgment, poor coordination, and decreased visibility—ultimately endangering lives and property.
He further noted that internationally, sales of alcohol and other potentially abusive substances are restricted to pubs and designated areas, avoiding public transport zones like motor parks. According to Rep. Adigun, many motor parks have become hotspots for the sale and consumption of alcohol and drugs, leading drivers to use these substances before embarking on their trips, which puts passengers and other road users at risk.
The lawmaker highlighted that alcoholic beverages are often openly displayed at motor parks, while narcotics are typically traded and consumed more discreetly. “Many drivers take alcohol or hard drugs before embarking on their journey simply because they are available at the motor parks, thereby endangering the lives of passengers and pedestrians,” Adigun stated.
The House further called on owners of private transport businesses to prohibit the sale of alcohol in their parks and urged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to intensify efforts to monitor motor parks, arrest, and prosecute both dealers and consumers of illicit drugs.
In his ruling, Deputy Speaker Rep. Benjamin Kalu instructed the committee on drugs and narcotics to ensure the enforcement of this directive.
