The first lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; and Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) have urged state governments to prioritise the fight against substance abuse in their strategic work plans for a safe and secure society.
They gave the charge on Monday in Abuja at the opening of two-day training on Drug Prevention Treatment and Care (DPTC), organised by NDLEA for spouses of state governors.
In her keynote at the event, Senator Tinubu who was also the special guest of honour tasked the states to see the war against the drug menace as a collective effort.
The first lady, represented by the wife of the Inspector General of Police, Mrs Elizabeth Egbetokun, commended Marwa and the Nigerian Governors’ Spouses Forum for the initiative.
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“We must recognise that drug abuse is not just a law enforcement issue but a public health crisis that requires a compassionate and multi-faceted response. We must challenge the stigma and discrimination associated with addiction, and foster a culture of empathy, understanding and solidarity towards those struggling with substance use disorders.
“As mothers, we understand the profound impact that drug abuse can have on our children’s lives. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to protect, nurture, and guide them towards a future free from the shackles of addiction,” she said.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, in his remarks commended the resourcefulness of the NDLEA leadership in utilising the Nigerian Governors’ Spouses Forum to cascade the drug war into the grassroots and the community level.
Speaking earlier, the NDLEA boss, Marwa, said the devastating effects of substance abuse on public health, the environment and its nexus with the spate of insecurity faced across the country have made it mandatory for a whole-of-society approach to curb the scourge. He said this has been the focus of the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), advocacy campaign emplaced by the NDLEA since 2021.
He urged the governors’ wives to take advantage of their positions to mobilise support for drug prevention and treatment in their states.
Also, the Minister of Education Prof. Tahir Mamman, SAN, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, noted the pivotal role of first ladies in the fight against the scourge of substance abuse.
