NGO, Community Leaders Synergise In War Against Drug Abuse
Following outcomes of the recent report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes, UNODC, on “Organised Crimes in Nigeria: A Threat Assessment”, some nong-overnmental organisations are seeking the partnership of community heads to solve the problem of drug threats.
The organisations in conjunction with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, the Department of State Services, DSS, Zion Gate Youth Empowerment and Rehabilitation Initiative, paid a courtesy visit on the traditional head of Karu in Nasarawa State, ESU Karu, Pharmacist Luka Panya Baba, in his palace to intimate him about their National Drug Advocacy Programme.
Receiving the group, Dr. Luka was full of praises for them, saying that communities under the Karu traditional stool, are currently faced with numerous problems of rising crime rate occasioned by the use of illicit substances.
He encouraged his traditional chiefs and district heads to go back to their communities with the news on how to end the negative effects of drug abuse and take back their communities from drug peddlers and their victims.
Pastor Amos Bawa of Anti-Cultism Initiative and Threats to Students and Youths, pointed out some flash points in the area to the traditional ruler and his chiefs and called for collaboration from all sides to ensure drug abuse, which he says goes hand in hand with cultism and crime, is nipped in the bud.
For Pastor Daniel Akpan, of the Zion Gate Youth Empowerment and Rehabilitation Initiative, if all hands are on deck beginning from the family to communities and society at large, the war against drugs would have been won half way.
Also, the Executive Director of Zion Gate Orphanage and Charity Home, Chief Mrs. Kaima Udeonu, said they decided to delve into seeking rehabiliation alternatives owing to their personal encounter with orphans who need such assistance but have no financial muscle to foot the bills.
A Superintendent of Narcotics at NDLEA, Mr. Shem Lama Eden, who spoke on behalf of the Area Commander, Karu, Nasarawa State, Michael Gudu, reeled out some dangerous drugs prevalent in the area and their effects on the human mind and advised the traditional chiefs to assist rid the area of the problem.
Earlier, Princess-Ekwi Ajide of Balm for the Bruised Foundation, had told the gathering that with the alarming rate of drug abuse in Nigeria which stands at 14.3 million aged between 15 and 64, it behoves them to do all within their powers to ensure that their communities are rid of drug peddlers.
She encouraged them to support initiatives that will support establishment of more rehabiliation centers or subsidising drug treatments for their community members as it will go a long way in solving some of the problematic fallout from drug abuse which include crime, suicidal tendencies, violence among others
The National Drug Advocacy Programme is expected to reach all states of the Federation and the FCT, with traditional rulers and community leaders championing the cause in their various communities.
Prince Victor Jatau, of the DSS, was amongst the dignitaries that graced the occassion.
