NDLEA Chairman, Buba Marwa, has warned tricycle operators against conveying illicit substances and drug traffickers or lose their operating licence.

Mr Marwa issued the warning when the Federal Capital Territory and the 36 states’ chairmen of Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN) paid him a courtesy visit.

In a statement issued by NDLEA’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the chairman charged the association not to allow its members to transport illicit drugs.

“You and millions of your members have all invested hundreds of millions to buy these tricycles.

“But let me urge and warn that many of your members may lose their investments if they are caught using the tricycles to promote criminality, by using them to convey drugs and drug traffickers.

“Please urge your members who may be doing this to desist because the long arms of the NDLEA will soon catch up with them and they will only have themselves to blame,” Mr Marwa said.

He expressed the readiness of the agency to partner with TOAN to educate its members on the dangers of illicit drugs and in the area of intelligence gathering.

The operators, represented by their seven zonal chairmen, had called for partnership with the NDLEA in the fight against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

In his remarks, the leader of the delegation, Aliyu Shuaibu, noted that about 40 million Nigerians were benefiting directly or indirectly from the tricycle business.

He said that aside from seeking collaboration with the NDLEA on the drug war, the association appreciates Mr Marwa for introducing the tricycle as a means of transportation when he was the military administrator of Lagos.

“The seed you sowed in Lagos State years ago is what is sustaining millions of Nigerians till today, whether as business or means of transportation,” Mr Shuaibu said.

The association said they were installing Mr Marwa as the National Life Grand Patron of TOAN because of his contributions to the tricycle business.