NDLEA says Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger top drug abuse list; seeks rehabilitation of victims
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Kwara tops the list of the prevalence of drug abuse and trafficking in the country, followed by Nasarawa and Niger, all in the North Central, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has disclosed.
NDLEA Zone C Commander Aliyu Omba made the disclosure in his keynote to commemorate in Minna at the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, with the theme “Stop Stigmatisation, Descrimination, Strengthen Prevention.”
Omba said research conducted by the United Nations in 2018 revealed Kwara topped the drug abuse and trafficking list with 13 per cent, followed by Nasarawa (11.8 per cent), and Niger (11.6 per cent).
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, ranked fourth (10 per cent), followed by Kogi (9.2 per cent), Benue (8 per cent)
Omba warned that although the menace of drug abuse a global problem, it has reached a crisis stage in Nigeria.
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Counselling and rehabilitation
According to him, the NDLEA under the chairmanship of Mohammed Marwa is doing everything possible to bring drug abuse under control, advising the public to intensify enlightenment on the danger, per reporting by The Guardian.
“Counselling and rehabilitation of drug addicts would go a long way in addressing the rampant cases of drug abuse in the society. The agency lays more emphasis on preventive measures.”
Omba urged stakeholders and society to stop sigmatisation of and discrimination against rehabilitated addicts.
NDLEA Niger Commander Bwalin Musa disclosed his officers are making efforts to track down drug traffickers.
Tinubu seeks removal of drug abuse stigma
President Bola Tinubu has canvassed for the removal of stigma on drug abuse victims to enable them access care, support, rehabilitation, and full integration into society.
His advocacy in Abuja coincides with the call from MTN Foundation Chairman Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi that drug abuse be tackled as a national emergency.
Tinubu endorsed the theme of this year’s celebration of the United Nations International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which is “People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention.”
He said the theme stressed the imperative to prioritise the well-being and dignity of individuals affected by drug abuse, recognise their worth and the importance of providing them with effective prevention and treatment interventions.
His words: “We could not agree less with the importance of this theme now that the most vulnerable population, especially women, young people, people living in marginalised environments, high-risk drug users, people displaced by armed conflicts or natural disasters and people in rural settings, are exposed to stigma, discrimination and exclusion from mainstream opportunities.
“These groups often face barriers in accessing the healthcare and social services within the society in addressing their drug use problems. Therefore, interventions to address drug use and its associated consequences need to be mindful of the fundamental rights of every individual.
“Stigma, both social and structural, which continues to affect people who use drugs, is implicated as one of the most common barriers to access support and services must be removed.”
