Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has urged young people to stay away from drug abuse and be good ambassadors of their families and the society.
AbdulRazaq gave the advice in Ilorin yesterday at the 2022 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking, which was organised by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kwara State Command, in conjunction with the Kwara State Drug Control Committee and Office of the First Lady, Mrs. Olufolake AbdulRazaq.
The theme of the event was: ‘Addressing Drug Challenges in Health and Humanitarian Crises’.
He said: “I thank the NDLEA, the government bodies and Office of the First Lady for putting this together.
“It clearly shows that the agency is alive to its responsibilities. The main message here today is: ‘Say no to drug abuse’.
“There is nothing good that comes out of illicit drugs. It destroys you as a person; it destroys your family and your communities, and it undermines the government.”
AbdulRazaq added: “All tiers of government, national and sub-national, spend a lot of money on drug control.
“The governments spend billions on the NDLEA to make sure they work effectively.”
The governor commended the leaderships of the agency both at the federal and state levels for their proactive steps and campaigns against abuse of drugs, pledging continuous support for the NDLEA and other relevant bodies to check the crime and mitigate its effects in the society.
According to him, “We specially thank, the agency Chairman, General Buba Marwa (rtd), for the work he has been doing since he assumed office. We have seen a lot of changes and proactiveness. He has left a landmark from what it used to be, with his experience and the capacity brought to the agency. I equally commend the Corps Commander in the state for actively engaging key sectors to win the fight against drug abuse.”
The governor also thanked the traditional rulers for their immense contributions to making their communities crime-free, and the various companies that supported the event.
Earlier, the wife of the governor said her office is involved in many activities and campaigns designed to curb drug abuse in the state.
Represented by the state Commissioner
for Health, Dr. Raji Razaq, she charged parents and religious leaders to intensify their efforts to dissuade younger ones from drug misuse.
The acting CMD, Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Budo-Egba, Prof Baba Issa, said it takes concerted efforts of various stakeholders to rid the society of drug abuse.
Represented by Dr. Garba Suleiman, the CMD said the government must intensify the ongoing anti-drug campaigns and take extra measures against the proliferation of shops that sell illicit substances.
Suleiman said the effects of drug abuse are devastating, and encouraged the addicts to do away with it, citing health hazards, financial crisis and criminal tendencies as major outcomes.
Meanwhile, the Chairman, Nigeria Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Nasir Yusuf, blamed poor parenting and nonchalance of some community leaders for the wrong exposure of youths to hard drugs.
