A coalition of youths under the Drug Free Arewa Movement (DFAM), have called for collective and practical actions to stem the rising menace of drug abuse in the northern part of the country.
This is contained in the communiqué of the maiden annual DFAM’s first Anti-drug Abuse Youth Leadership Summit in Abuja.
A member of the Legal Committee of DFAM, Gambo Wakili, who read the communique of the summit weekend in Abuja also called for the prohibition of open drug hawking to rid the north of quack drug sellers and administers that sell to ignorant people who misuse them.
According to her, the 19 northern states governors, elders, traditional rulers, legislators, and other stakeholders must participate actively to drastically reduce drug abuse and trafficking.
She said this is to ensure generational sustenance and to also save the future generation from falling victim of drug abuse.
She said their call followed a national survey on Drug Use and Health in Nigeria conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) which showed the rate of drug abuse in the north.
She said, “The summit identified that there is inadequate information on drugs and substances of abuse targeting youths, thus the need to increase knowledge and awareness on harmful effects of drugs.
“There is the need to tackle stigmatisation of drug addicts, lack of adequate and appropriate treatment and rehabilitation services and lack of man power and poor funding of the Nigeria 1Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
“Delay trials of drug related crimes, lack of good parental relationship and the need for measures to enhance behavioural change for abusers with adequate knowledge on harmful effects of drug abuse are also some of the challenges. We are aware of drug abuse dangers and its negative effects on the northern region’s economic, social, global and cultural value and its threat to security, so we commit ourselves in taking ownership to stop it.”
Another official of the organisation, Ibrahim Yusuf, said they recommended continuous survey on the state of drug abuse in the north, mapping of hot spots and the formation of action committees on drug abuse.
He urged the NDLEA to adopt an intervention line for long term empowerment of youths to counter drug abuse and collaborate with key actors in the fight against it.
He also urged the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to take full responsibility of massive anti-drug abuse campaign through partnership with the media, NGOs and corporate organisations.
He said, “The 19 northern governors should adopt a common objective of curbing the production and traffic in narcotic drugs and adhere to the principle of cooperation to control dissemination of illicit drugs.”
He called for enforcement of strict laws on dealers, smugglers of illicit drugs and regular raids on people who hawk prescription drugs to non-eligible buyers and establish state bureau for substance abuse.
Yusuf said that since the north have many challenges confronting it curbing drug abuse in the region would help in improving the socio-economic development of the region and make youths productive.
Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
