Benue Links clears the air as driver clashes with NDLEA officials in Osun

The Acting General Manager and Management of Benue Links Nigeria Limited have received numerous inquiries within the past 24 hours regarding a circulating video involving one of our drivers and Officials of the NDLEA at Oshogbo, Osun State. The video depicts a shocking discovery of prohibited substances aboard our vehicle en route from Lagos to Makurdi, Benue State. We wish to clarify the following:

The company consistently collaborates with the NDLEA and other relevant authorities in the fight against drug abuse and trafficking. We ensure that alcohol and any banned substances are neither sold nor utilized at any of our parks nationwide. Additionally, all our drivers undergo periodic comprehensive drug tests conducted by the NDLEA and receive appropriate counseling against substance use.

Our drivers are well-informed, having been cautioned repeatedly, that our vehicles do not transport any banned substances, whether in passengers’ luggage or waybills. This is why we insist on examining the contents of every waybill before acceptance. Passengers are also duly informed of the consequences of traveling with prohibited substances, and any offenders are promptly handed over to the appropriate authorities.

The driver shown in the video acted independently by accepting and agreeing to deliver the waybill without obtaining permission from the Lagos Business Manager, where the load originated. Furthermore, he did not adhere to the standard procedure of verifying the content of the waybill, as consistently instructed.

The Acting General Manager has been briefed by NDLEA officials on the incident and has dispatched company representatives to engage with the NDLEA officials. We express our full cooperation with the investigation.

Pending the investigation’s outcome, we emphasize that ALL BANNED SUBSTANCES ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED FROM BEING LOADED ON OUR VEHICLES, whether as passengers’ luggage or waybills. Any individual found in violation will be apprehended and handed over to the appropriate security agencies, regardless of their social status.

We assure all our valued customers of a continued commitment to providing safe, reliable, comfortable, and affordable travel experiences. This commitment is especially pertinent as the Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, invests significantly in the company.