Date: 2018-03-06

The Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers, Kwara State branch has said the recent passage of a bill prohibiting alcohol production, sales and consumption in the state, by the Kwara State House of Assembly, is long overdue.

The Chairman of NURTW, Alhaji Aliyu Issa Ore, stated this in a telephone chat with this medium at the weekend adding that the development is laudable. He however blamed the local governments for aiding the sales of liquor at motor parks in the state.

In his words, he said, "Our local government authorities are the ones responsible for sales of alcohol at motor parks and other areas, because they collect revenue from liquor vendors.

"We are however in support of government's ban of liquor at our parks, be it alcohol, wine or anything intoxicating.

"On our highways, we expect similar prohibition, except in some designated areas like hotels. In advanced countries, such a thing does not happen," he submitted. Recall that recently, the Kwara State House of Assembly passed a Bill for a law expanding areas where manufacturing, sales and consumption of liquor are prohibited in Ilorin metropolis.

Under the law, no person will be allowed to produce, sell, store or openly consume any alcohol within specified areas and any person who contravenes the provision shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding N100,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or both.

Speaking after the passage of the Bill into law, the Speaker, Dr Ali Ahmad, while directing the Clerk of the House, Alhaji Ahmed Katsina Mohammed, to prepare clean copy for the governor's assent, expressed confidence that the Bill would go a long way to protect young ones from the ills of alcohol consumptions.