- Safiu Kehinde
The Lagos State Government has expressed readiness to collaborate with stakeholders in tackling commercial drivers sleeping in buses and motor parks.
Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), made this known on Wednesday at the bimonthly meeting with the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in Ikeja.
Salu-Hundeyin said concerns had been raised about commercial drivers spending nights in motor parks, with inadequate rest potentially affecting road safety.
She said driver fatigue could reduce alertness and increase the risk of road crashes, stressing that addressing the issue would benefit society.
“We need to help them. In helping them, we are helping the society. We are helping ourselves,” Salu-Hundeyin said.
The SSG recounts recently witnessing a serious lone-vehicle accident while travelling to work, prompting concerns about the possible effects of driver fatigue.
She said some drivers slept in their vehicles because they wanted to resume work early and secure passengers.
According to her, others might be sleeping at motor parks because they lacked suitable accommodation.
Salu-Hundeyin said the issue was multifaceted and required government and stakeholders to understand the circumstances behind the practice.
She said such understanding was necessary to develop appropriate and sustainable solutions to the problem.
The SSG also called for cleaner and safer motor parks, saying the government would engage stakeholders on activities undermining safety and orderliness.
She expressed concern over the sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks at motor parks.
Salu-Hundeyin recalled that the government had previously discussed restrictions on the sale of sachet alcoholic drinks at motor parks.
She said the government would continue to discourage shanties and other activities that could compromise safety within motor parks.
The SSG linked some welfare and behavioural challenges among drivers to broader social and mental-health concerns.
She said the state government was investing in mental-health infrastructure to address such challenges.
According to her, Lagos is building the largest mental-health hospital in West Africa, underscoring the importance of mental health to public safety.
Salu-Hundeyin urged residents to embrace the principle of “see something and say something”, stressing that security was a collective responsibility.
“Everybody is a security personnel. Motorists, passengers and residents have roles to play in preventing crime and ensuring safer communities,” she said.