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The Drivers’ Care Initiative, a welfare-focused project of Transporters for Tinubu 2027, on Tuesday held an outreach programme for commercial drivers at Jabi Motor Park in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, providing free eye tests, drug abuse sensitisation and access to soft loan opportunities.
The initiative is currently running a nationwide programme from February 26 to March 6, 2026. Banners at the venue described it as a platform designed to “uplift hardworking transporters across Nigeria” by enhancing health, safety and sustainability in the transportation sector.
Declaring the event open, the FCT Mandate Secretary for Transportation, Dr. Elechi Chinedum, stressed the critical role of transport operators in national development, noting that no country can thrive without a functional and well-supported transportation system. 
“When they told me about this programme, I was very happy,” he said. “Even in my office, when we are discussing things that concern transportation, we all know transportation is the most important aspect of our lives. Imagine when there’s no transportation. How can we get here? How can people come to Jabi Park? How can people go from Jabi Park to Gombe, to Abia State?”
He described drivers as central to economic growth and social connectivity across the federation.
“The work you people are doing is so important, whether you go by road, air or sea, transportation is very important. That is how important the work you people do is,” he stated.
Dr. Chinedum emphasised partnership between government and transport stakeholders, acknowledging that public institutions cannot singlehandedly address every challenge in the sector.
“No single government can do everything, but as much as we can, government will be trying its best,” he said. “What is important is that people need to meet constantly. If there is a problem, let us find how to solve it.”
He assured operators that the Transportation Secretariat remains accessible to them.
“Our office is open to you any time at all to take issues and deal with matters,” he said. “Anytime you need any kind of intervention, if there’s any problem you need government to solve, please bring it. The one we cannot solve, we will take it to the Minister. I’m sure the one the Minister cannot solve, he will take it to the President. The point is that we are partners — partners in progress.”
The Mandate Secretary also highlighted ongoing infrastructure efforts in the FCT, noting that Abuja, though nearly 50 years old, is still under construction.
“It is only under this administration that we are now building modern bus terminals in the FCT,” he said. “Any city that doesn’t have good roads, the people that feel the impact first are the transporters, because every day you are changing shock absorbers and other parts due to bad roads. As we keep building more terminals, we’ll be modernising the (old) parks.” 
He urged drivers to prioritise their health, particularly their vision, and to avoid substance abuse.
“They told me about the eye test. Do your eye test. If you need glasses, get glasses. As for drugs and alcohol, please stay away from it. If you drink, don’t drive. Nobody should do drugs because it will destroy your life,” he cautioned before formally declaring the programme open. 
Earlier in her remarks, the Program Coordinator of Transporters for Tinubu 2027, Mrs. Chinwe Uwaegbute, explained that the outreach was structured around three key components: free eye tests and care, sensitisation on substance abuse, and guidance on how to access loans to support transport businesses.
“We are here on the platform of what we call Drivers’ Care Initiative, and it is important that we come here because we know the importance of every driver and everybody that works in every motor park,” she said. “It is because of you that motor parks are organised. It is because of you that people can travel.”
She commended the operational structure of Jabi Motor Park, noting that vehicles from the park reportedly service all 36 states of the federation.
“It is not an easy job; it is an important job that you are doing,” she said. “You are not only safeguarding human beings, you are also safeguarding the properties of people that come in here. People come in here and they are safe, they are happy.”
In his address, the National Coordinator of Transporters for Tinubu 2027, Prince Segun Obayendo, reaffirmed the group’s commitment to drivers’ welfare and encouraged participants to take full advantage of the medical and financial support services provided at the event. 
The programme also drew participation from representatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), who supported the drug abuse awareness campaign, as well as leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) at both national and FCT levels. The FCT Chairman of the union, Prince Karshi Dauda Abdulkadri, appreciated the organisers and urged members to maximise the opportunities presented.
The Jabi, Abuja, outreach reflects a broader effort by the Drivers’ Care Initiative to integrate health advocacy, responsible driving culture and financial empowerment into Nigeria’s transport ecosystem, positioning commercial drivers as critical stakeholders in national development.
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