The President of the Court of Appeal, Her Lordship, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, Thursday took a strong stance to combat driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol and drugs, a move aimed at reducing the rate of drunk driving induced road crashes in Nigeria.
This was as she also implored commuters to take their safety in their hands by being mindful of their actions on the road.
Dongban-Mensem, made the appeal during a campaign organised in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) which is being supported by various stakeholders, including other law enforcement agencies, transport unions, and road safety advocacy groups.
The campaign was aimed at increasing awareness about the dangers of driving under the influence and promote stricter enforcement of traffic laws.
Speaking at Jabi Central Motor Park, the venue of the campaign, the President stressed that driving under the influence is a serious offence that puts lives at risk.
She emphasised on the dangers of bad road use behaviours and called for a decisive action against it.
“As a nation, we must take a collective stand against this menace and work towards creating a safer and more responsible driving culture,” Dongban-Mensem.
Also, the Corps Marshal, FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, while addressing the leadership of the transport unions and other guests at the venue said that this decisive action was a clear indication of the commitment of the Judiciary to deepen existing partnership with the FRSC towards the realisation of the safety and well-being of road users.
He noted: “The President of the Court of Appeal’s stance against driving under the influence is a call to action for all Nigerians.
“We must work together to create a safer and more responsible driving culture. This includes educating ourselves and others about the dangers of driving under the influence, reporting incidents of reckless driving, and supporting initiatives that promote road safety.” Corps Marshal concluded.
The representative of the Chairman, NDLEA, who spoke on behalf of the Chairman, Brig-Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) made it clear that driving under the influence would no longer be tolerated, adding that those found guilty would face the full force of the law.
He pledged the agency’s readiness to partner with FRSC for full enforcement.
The Chairman of the park, Mr. Gabriel Okeh commended the President’s bold stance against driving under the influence describing it is a step in the right direction.
“We commend her commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of Nigerian citizens and pledge our support for this initiative,” he added.