Obiano, Aisha Buhari, others urge end to drug abuse

• Anambra to build N120m rehab centre for victims
• NDLEA arrests 573 suspects in Kogi, Bayelsa, A’Ibom

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, wife of the president, Hajia Aisha Buhari, the Edo branch of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and a faith-based non-governmental organisation, Christ Against Drug Abuse Ministry (CADAM), yesterday canvassed an urgent end to substance abuse by Nigerians.

The governor, who spoke at an event to mark the 2019 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking in Awka, disclosed that arrangement had been perfected by his administration to build a N120 million rehabilitation centre for victims as part of efforts to assist the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the state.

Represented by the Executive Secretary, Anambra Health Insurance Scheme, Dr. Simeon Onyemaechi, the governor warned that drugs were dangerous to health, urging youths to avoid sale, buying and use of these harmful items.He reminded them that such indulgence could truncate their future ambitions.

The state NDLEA commander, Sule Momodu, pleaded with the public to partner with the agency by providing useful information about drug trafficking and abuse.At the Anti Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) organised by the MTN Foundation to address the menace in communities as well as addiction among students in Abuja, Hajia Buhari called for a multi-dimensional approach to strike a balance between drug demand reduction and total blockage of identified channels of supply.

Represented by the wife of the vice president, Dolapo Osinbajo, she noted: “To remedy the situation, we must provide a moral foundation to proper guidance to nurture children, attending to their needs and guiding them properly to adulthood.”During a function in Benin City, Chairman of Edo FIDA, Iryn Omoroguiwa and School Advocacy/ Awareness Programme Committee Chairperson, Okeoghene Abhulimhen, said the body was available to take up any case of sexual violence against children.

They condemned the use of substance by children, describing such as injurious to their health and lead to a situation where the individual gets into problems with the law.At an awareness walk in Ikeja, Lagos, CADAM’s Director General, Dokun Adedeji, described drug abuse as a poison to the well being of the youth.

However, the NDLEA has arrested 56 suspected drug peddlers and seized 173.83 kilogrammes of illicit products between January and June this year in Kogi. The State Commander, Idris Bello, disclosed this yesterday at the NYSC camp in Kabba.

In Yenagoa, the Bayelsa commander of the agency, Abdullahi Abdul, confirmed the arrest of 105 suspects and seizure of 27.35 kilogrammes of drugs.The Akwa Ibom leader of the organisation, Mohammed Sokoto, said 412 persons were apprehended, 322.5 kilogrammes of substance confiscated and 20 convictions secured in 12 months.