Gbenga Omotoso Raises Alarm Over Sachet Alcohol Consumption Among Commercial Drivers

Gbenga Omotoso, Lagos state commissioner for information and strategy, has raised concern over the “culture” of sachet alcohol consumption among commercial drivers.

He warned that weak enforcement and public indifference continue to undermine efforts to curb the practice.

Omotoso spoke on Tuesday during a virtual forum hosted by the Akin Fadeyi Foundation as part of its anti-corruption campaign, ‘Corruption Not In My Country’.

Addressing stakeholders at the event, the commissioner said attempts to ban the sale and consumption of alcohol at motor parks have faced stiff resistance from drivers.

“They (drivers) just put it in their mouth, open it and start drinking before driving. Nobody does anything about that,” he said, describing the practice as brazen and routine.

Omotoso linked the trend to the broader problem of road safety enforcement, noting that reckless driving and disregard for traffic rules often go unchecked.

“People complain about the state of our roads. Many of the roads have turned them into racing tracks. Any attempt to stop them is called corruption,” he said.

While acknowledging lapses within law enforcement agencies, the commissioner cautioned against generalising misconduct.

“I am not saying government officials in law enforcement are clean. No. In any human situation, the human element is there. Some people may not do the right thing,” he said.

”There are bad government officials; there are bad policemen. But those who are bad do not represent all the others who are doing very well.”

The discussion formed part of a broader conversation on road safety, accountability and citizen responsibility.

Responding to questions about institutional collaboration and measurable impact, Akin Fadeyi, executive director of the foundation, defended its citizen-led approach, arguing that civic action should not be stalled by bureaucratic delays.

“We didn’t wait for government approval before starting. We can’t fix all the problems, but we committed ourselves to nation-building from our own little corner,” Fadeyi said.

He noted that the foundation has trained more than 2,000 road safety officers and developed a reporting application that allows users to document and transmit traffic infractions directly to the Federal Road Safety Corps.

Both speakers agreed that beyond public campaigns, Nigeria requires firmer enforcement, cultural reorientation and more responsive emergency reporting systems to stem preventable road accidents linked to alcohol abuse and reckless driving.