Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has urged all Nigerians, irrespective of occupation and location, to join the fight against drug abuse to check its spread among youths within neighbourhoods and communities.
The State Commander of NDLEA in Enugu State, Mr Sunu Wadahi Abel, made the call in Enugu on Saturday while speaking after 5-Kilometre Walk to re-launch the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) in Enugu State.
Sunu said that it had become imperative for all to join since no one is immune against the menace and negative consequences of drug abuse in the neighbourhoods or communities.
According to him, even when one is clean and disciplined; one or two youths in the same neighbourhood/community that engage in drug abuse through its influence can commit unimaginable atrocities and vices against such disciplined person.
“It is very alarming in our rural communities that if you have or drop some valueables; they are stolen by those living on drugs and same valuables are sold at a giveaway price to service their daily drug abuse life-style,” he said.
Sunu, who is also a Commander of Narcotics, said that since he assumed office two weeks ago, he had intensified all aspects of NDLEA operations especially putting emphasis on public awareness and sensitisation against drug abuse and paddling.
He said: “Since, I assumed duty, we have started a massive reach out of WADA campaign to traditional rulers in various communities and visited various military and para-military barracks with WADA anti-drug messages.
“We are having collaboration with the wife of the GOC that have an NGO whose mandate is also to fight drug abuse among barracks youths.
“The NDLEA team have sensitised hundreds of National Youth Service Corps members as well as visited scores of schools and we are still carrying on the school sensitisation with vigour as we believe in proactive drug check and catching-them-young.”
The commander appreciated the military, para-military, NGOs, organisations and fitness/sports clubs that joined the walk in their hundreds under a short notice, adding: “our mega-rally/walk is coming up on Anti-Drug Abuse Day, June 26; which will be bigger.”
Speaking, Presiding Director of David Folaranmi Foundation, Mr David Folaranmi, called for the family to be actively involved in the fight against drug abuse at home and within neighbourhoods.
“What we can do differently to deepen the fight against drug abuse is for the family members to stand out, be on the lookout and start early to check or discipline any child that engages in drug abuse or have some trait of drug abuse.
“Most times, the way the society is formed and oriented starts with the family and parents must take parental upbringing and nurturing very seriously,” Folaranmi said.
Corroborating, Mr Joe Mazeli, Chapter President of Association of Seadogs, said that all needed to join the noble fight against drug abuse due to the rate of violence and waste drug abuse had caused among the youths and communities in the country.
Mazeli noted that “no one should sit on the fence and watch drug abuse turn a peaceful and happy neigbourhood, Enugu State, and country into a war zone because some people are under influence of intoxicating substances.”
The 5-kilometres walk was attended by personnel of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air-Force, Nigeria Police, Civil Defence, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service, EFCC, Federal Fire Service, FRSC, DSS, NGOs, corporate organidations and fitness/sports clubs.
The walk started at Federal Secretariat within Ozubulu Street, down to Presidential Road, Ogui Road to Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu and turning back via Ogui Road, Bissala Road, Government House Junction, ICC Road and terminated at Okpara Square in Independent Layout, Enugu.
