By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (retd) will on Friday, March 19, commission a newly built multi-purpose clinic and rehabilitation center in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
The 16-bed rehabilitation center – Behavioural Action Care
Foundation Centre – was built by a group of indigenes of the ancient town under the umbrella of Ogbomoso First Community Initiative also known as “O 1st Group” as part of their efforts to stem the dangerous tide of drug abuse in the area.
The board chairman of the Behavioral Action Care Foundation, a unit of the
O 1ST Group, Otunba Bayo Babatunde, said in a statement that the hospital
was built to check the prevalence of drug usage and abuse prompted by the
location of a university community in the town as well as the large presence of immigrants from Ghana, Niger, Benin, India and China among others.
“Historically, Ogbomoso indigenes are republicans, peaceful, enterprising
and widely travelled. However, things have changed and as in other parts of the country, the traditional values of hard work and moral standards are
disappearing and giving way to acts alien to our community.
“This is worrisome especially when you consider the potential insecurity of lives, property and most especially the future of the community when majority of the youths are drug dependent,” he stated
As a remedial measure, he disclosed that the group agreed on a position
around the fight against drugs and substance abuse in the community and
has been spreading the message to all, that, the high rate of consumption
and abuse of various drugs and substances which are inimical to the health
of the consumer is a visa to mental distress and psychiatric disorders and
ultimate collapse of the future development of the youth population.
Otunba Babatunde said the group in collaboration with the NDLEA had in the past embarked on steps to facilitate the sensitization of the populace through radio talk shows, lectures on the dangers of drug abuse as well as 1,000-man match around Ogbomoso township against the use and abuse of drugs.
He disclosed that the new clinic and rehabilitation center is furnished with
state of the art equipment, indoor games, 40 kva diesel generator and one unit 7.5 kva tiger petrol generator to ensure that the centre was able to carry out its responsibilities.
Otunba Bababtunde also hinted that other activities lined up for the
day include the commissioning of projects like the reticulated water
supply to the community, transformer to power Oke Osuru, the home community of O’ First Group while there will be a media launch of the Women Search Initiative.
All the senior paramount rulers, chiefs, political leaders, religious leaders, youth leaders, security chiefs and leaders of the National Council of Women
Societies in the area are expected to grace the occasion.