Stakeholders stress on need for scale up of fight against substance abuse at ASAP conference
The Federal Government has called on individuals and organisations to join hands with the nation in the fight against substance abuse scourge, in order to create a drug free state.
This was made known by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu, ably represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation of Nigeria, George Akume on Monday, June 26, 2023 at the MTN Anti Substance Abuse stakeholders conference held in commemoration of the World Drug Day at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Abuja.
In his speech, the President said, “I implore everyone, from the religious leaders to traditional leaders, educational institutions, opinion leaders, civil society leaders, well-meaning Nigerians to join hands with the government in fighting this scourge. We must come together to create a drug free nation where individuals can thrive and reach their full potential.”
Tinubu added, “It is crucial we educate ourselves and others on the dangers of drug abuse and the need to stop stigma and discrimination. We must empower our youths with the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions about their lives and provide them the resources they need to avoid falling victims to drug abuse. We must also support those struggling with drug addictions and provide them with treatments and necessary support they need to overcome their addiction. We stand together to reaffirm our commitment to combating drug abuse and illicit drug usage.”
The President assured everyone present that the administration is committed to the principle of people first, in the context of drug prevention and treatment.
He said, “I implore everyone to double their efforts to combat drug abuse in the country. We appreciate and acknowledge the local and international agencies, especially the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, for their support and cooperation. Special mention is the notable achievement of the NDLEA officers and men, for the freshness injected into our drug control effort and show of rare sense of purpose. I hereby reiterate this administration’s support to NDLEA in the sustenance of drug control efforts and their patriotic effort to keep the country safe.”
In his response, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA); Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa said, “NDLEA remains committed to the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking. We have intensified our operations, expanded our intelligence networks and collaborated with local and international partners to dismantle drug cartels, seize illicit drugs and bring the perpetrators to justice. In the past 29 months, 31,675 drug offenders have been brought to book, among them 35 girls. So far, 5147 have earned jail terms, with over 6252 tonnes of illicit drugs seized. Some of the prosecuted offenders have forfeited their ill-gotten wealth to the government.”
“This is even as we continue to prioritize prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, ensuring that those affected by drugs are given the necessary support and care that they need to rebuild their lives. To this end, NDLEA commissioned a drug abuse sport center with a 24/7 tow free helpline 0800 1020 3040 to attend to individuals with drug challenges and their families.”’
“The center is manned by a team of professionals, including psychologists, psychotherapists and social workers, mental health specialists and psychiatrists. These medical professionals provide support for people who use drugs and their family members without the fear of being judged or stigmatized to facilitate the recovery and manage social and emotional problems thereby improving their quality of lives.”’ he added.
Speaking at the event, Director, MTN Foundation, Dennis Okoro also said, “As a matter of urgency, we must scale up this fight against illicit drug use. So, we can in the shortest possible time, have a nation free of drug abuse. We need to begin to look at this issue as an emergency situation and deal with it as such.”
The MTN Anti-Substance Abuse Project (ASAP) is a multi-sectoral initiative spearheaded by the MTN Foundation to impact and make a significant change in the fight against substance abuse and addiction by delivering interventions that will help reduce the rate of first-time drug abuse among the youth.
