DRIVERS’ CARE INITIATIVE: FREE EYE SCREENING BRINGS RELIEF TO ABUJA TRANSPORT WORKERS

Transport workers across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have hailed the Transporters for Tinubu 2027 Drivers’ Care Initiative, which provided free eye screening and eyeglasses to hundreds of commercial drivers over the past six days.

The initiative, which kicked off on February 26, 2026, at Jabi Park Second Gate, rounded off today at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Motor Park, with beneficiaries expressing gratitude for the health intervention that addressed a critical occupational hazard.

Speaking at the final outing, Mr. Aliu Abualdazeez, who stood in for the Airport Motor Park Chairman, Prince Ola Amos, highlighted the significance of the programme to drivers who struggle with vision impairment.

“Today, we are witnessing a huge benefit to us. I know some of us have eyes problems. If you go to the hospital, you are going to spend money to check the eye and get eyeglass. But what they are going to do for us today is to test our eyes and give us eyeglass for free. We are not paying for it,” he told an enthusiastic crowd.

Mr. Abualdazeez explained that the eyeglasses would specifically address challenges faced by drivers on the road, particularly at night. “The problem you are having driving at night when an oncoming vehicle puts light on your eyes, the eyeglass will defend that for you. If you cannot read small letters, you will get it. And if you cannot see far, you will get it.”

The Programme Director, Mrs. Chinwe Uwagbuete, described the initiative as the brainchild of Prince Segun Obayendo, National Coordinator of Transporters for Tinubu 2027. She noted that beyond eye care, beneficiaries also received drug abuse sensitization from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and information on accessing loans through the Transporters Cooperative Society.

Other locations visited during the six-day exercise included Zuba, Jabi Park First Gate, Dei Dei, and Nyanya, with members of RTEAN, NARTO, and NURTW all benefiting from the programme.

Following the success of the FCT tour, organisers have announced plans to extend the initiative to all 36 states of the federation.