Wednesday 26 September 2012

441 Commercial Drivers in Lagos State Test Positive to Hard Drugs “Especially Cocaine & Marijuana”




Lagos state government has released results of a recent drug test conducted on 2,500 commercial drivers in the state which is sure to make one wary of entering such commercial vehicles.

The state Commissioner for Health Dr. Jide Idris, yesterday revealed the results of the test. He said at least 441 commercial drivers in the state tested positive to cannabis also known as marijuana and cocaine in the screening recently conducted on 2,500 of them. The drivers were also screened on substances abuse, hypertension, diabetes and vision impairment.

So far, we have screened 2002 drivers with the following results obtained: 781 were found to be driving under the influence of alcohol; 601 were found to be hypertensive, and 441 were positive to psychotropic drugs, especially cocaine and marijuana.
Also, 940 were screened for visual impairment and 13 per cent had to to be given special glasses,” Vanguardquoted him as saying.

The exercise was conducted at Alaagba Motor Park, Iyana-Ipaja between September 4 to 12, 2012, and Under Bridge Motor Park between September 18 to 19, 2012.

Idris noted that the state government had no option than to invoke section 21, subsection 1 of the state traffic law which prescribes a conviction fine of N100,000 or two years imprisonment or both on the offenders

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