The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has urged religious leaders, community heads, parents and other stakeholders to heighten advocacy on the dangers of drug abuse and trafficking.
The FCT Commander of NDLEA, Mr Kabir Tsakuwa made the call on Thursday in Abuja during a pre-event briefing on sensitisation and advocacy programme for women and youths in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Tsakuwa said that drug abuse and trafficking was one of the most challenging issues of concern to families and countries, including Nigeria.
He said that the Nigerian Drug Use Survey of 2018 revealed that one out of every seven Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64 use illicit drugs, and one out of every four drug users is a woman.
He also said that marijuana remained the most used illicit substance in the country, adding that the use of other drugs like Methamphetamines and Tramadol were also on the increase especially among the youths.
“It is true that the menace of drug abuse and trafficking is enormous and that it is ravaging our society.
“It is also important to note that the Agency is making tremendous strides in addressing the challenges with tangible results.
“Consequently, there is the need for our religious leaders, community heads, parents, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to rise up to these drug challenges in our communities.
“Our collective involvement, parenting styles, information sharing, creation of awareness,
cooperation and synergy among all security agencies are key to achieving successes in our community-based interventions on drug abuse.
“Our hope for a better society, under the able leadership of NDLEA Chairman, Buba Marwa is renewed, and we solicit for your support and resilience towards a drug-free society,” he said.
Also, Dr Aminu Gusau, a stakeholder and co-organiser of the programme, lamented over the rising involvement of women and youths in drug abuse and trafficking.
Gusau said that it was important for all responsible citizens to come together and address the menace as the NDLEA could not do the work alone.
He commended the NDLEA for the good work in arresting and intercepting large quantities of drugs and suspected drug traffickers across the country.
“NDLEA has been fighting the menace, all we can do is to support them and see how our society can be free of drug abuse and trafficking.
“I can proudly say that NDLEA is doing tremendously. You are doing a good job and please continue to do this.
“All we can do as stakeholders is to support the good work of the agency and ensure that the country is free of illicit drugs and peddlers,” Gusau added.
Earlier, The NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa said that the Agency’s goal was to reverse the ugly trend of drug abuse.
Marwa, represented by Director, Drug Demand Reduction, Dr Ngozi Madubuike, said this would only be achieved through prevention by helping young people to avoid or delay their initiation into using illicit drugs.
He said it would also require preventing them from developing disorders.
“This programme is in line with our War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative of raising the consciousness of the general populace to the consequences of substance abuse in our society.
“This also remain one of the role that is expected of each and everyone in order to prevent drug abuse in our society,” the NDLEA chairman said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NDLEA FCT Command, in collaboration with Dr Aminu Gusau, organised the sensitization programmes under the platform of WADA.
The advocacy include an anti drug campaign to be held at Zuba Motor Park and a workshop targeting women and youths at the Women Development Center, on Friday.
