Drug abuse: Humanitarian Minister tasks media on effective reportage
By Rahila Lassa, Abuja
The Nigerian Government has described the media as a major agent of socialisation and a viable tool for disseminating information on the ills of drug and substance abuse in the society.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq said this at a Media Orientation on National Awareness on Drugs and Substance Abuse held at Merit House, Abuja, Nigeria.
According to her, with the huge dependence on the media, its role cannot be over emphasised in shaping ideas, values and behaviours amongst young people.
“The role and importance of media as a viable tool for informing and educating people across groups and demographics especially on Drugs and substance abuse in our society cannot be over emphasized. As you are aware, substance abuse is increasing at an alarming rate, deteriorating the health of nations, increasing crime, hampering productivity, destroying relationships, eroding social and moral values and impeding the overall progress of societies,” she said.
The Minister noted that the continuous use of substance had led to increase in addiction and criminal activities in the society.
She said, “The potential power of the mass media has helped in solving social problems. Television, radio and print advertising have been used overtime to influence our ideas, values and behaviour”.
Sensitisation Programmes
According to her, young people are the largest group held hostage by the menace of substance and drug abuse, hence the need for the media to engage in more sensitisation programmes to curb health and related problems in the society.
“The effects of drug abuse is detrimental not only to the individual but to the society as a whole, therefore, the use of campaigns by the mass media to reduce health and other related social problems in the society is very critical,” Farouq emphasised.
The Minister also urged the media to remain steadfast in the accurate reportage of helpful information that will promote peace and unity of the nation.
“The potential of mass media campaigns lies in their ability to propagate simple and focused messages to large audiences repeatedly, over time, at a low cost per capita. It is also assumed that they are able to reach a large and heterogeneous proportion of the population”.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary Bashir Nura Alkali reiterated the negative consequences of substance abuse on the society especially on youths.
Alkali who was represented by the Director Human Resource Management, Mr Abdulrahaman Babatunde Jaji urged the mass media to join hands in stamping out substance and drug abuse.
“The abuse of alcohol and other drugs by youths may result in family crises and jeopardize many aspects of family life, which sometimes result in family dysfunction. Therefore, the collaborative effort of all stakeholders is needed as no one alone can control it.
“The problem is on the increase especially in the conflict zones of the country which is a serious threat to our national sanctity. Based on these findings, prevention advocates would look to the mass media as an important aid in addressing the problem of Drugs and Substance abuse,” he explained.
The Director, Social Development, Dr Dorothy Nwodo thanked the participants and other stakeholders for their contributions in ensuring a robust awareness on drugs and substance abuse.
She also implored the media to keep up efforts towards projecting and actualising the Ministry’s mandates.
A representative of the National Youth Network, Modupe Fagbenrun said there’s need for the Nigerian Government to provide more employment opportunities for the youths to keep them engaged to curb the menace of drug abuse and other social vices.
Confidence Okwuchi
