Kogi Government has called on stakeholders and government at all levels to invest massively in prevention and treatment programmes to stem the tide of drug abuse and destruction of innocent lives in the country.
Mr Monday Anyebe, Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development made the call at the grand finale of the week-long celebration of the 2024 World Drug Day at the Government House on Wednesday in Lokoja.
The Commissioner, who spoke on the theme: “The Evidence Is Clear, Invest In Prevention”, hinted that the state government was poised to invest seriously in preventive measures to save the people from drug menace.
He said, “As we commemorate the World Drug Day, the message is the same; which is laying emphasis on the need for us to begin to invest in prevention, rather than cure and rehabilitation.
“Our theme resonates deeply. We have seen first-hand, the impact of drug abuse on our communities. Unfortunately, we have lost talented young people, seen families torn apart, and witnessed the devastating consequences of addiction.
“But we can also witness the power of prevention which can lead to transformation of young lives, ignite hope in their eyes, and revive the resilience of their spirits.
“In Kogi today, we have a Sheriff in Gov. Usman Ododo, who believes in the well-being of every resident and who is committed to prioritising
prevention and ensuring that our youths have access to resources required to thrive, ” Anyebe said.
Beyond marking the 2024 World Drug Day, the Commissioner assured that government would collaborate with relevant stockholders to drive the advocacy on sensitization to expose the dangers of drug abuse.
Kogi State Sector Commander of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr Umar Yahuza, in his remarks, called for urgent steps to be taken to persuade the nation’s teeming youths against self-destruction inherent in the use of hallucinating illicit drugs.
Yahuza noted that the implication of drugs and other psychotropic substances on security, economic and general wellbeing was severe and worrisome to the society.
He noted that Statistics had shown that the challenge posed by drug was assuming a colossal social dimension which has been linked beyond doubt, to the escalation of insecurity and the attendant effects on peace, security and economy of Nigeria.
Yahuza said that in prosecuting the war against illicit drugs the Command, as part of efforts to nip the production and supply links, discovered and destroyed cannabis farms in Igalamela-Odolu, Ofu, Omala, Idah, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Areas of the state.
He further revealed that assets of the drug dealers were also seized and tendered in court for forfeiture to serve as deterrent to those who might be influenced by the illegally acquired wealth to venture in.
The commander described the war against drug as one that must be fought from all fronts and craved the involvement of traditional and religious leaders as well as NGOs urging them to lend helping hands to cause.