The Kwara State Government has reiterated its commitment to the prevention and total eradication of substance and drug abuse use in the state.
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The Commissioner for Youths Development, Nafisat Musa Buge, stated this while hosting a stakeholders’ meeting on drug abuse, prevention and control, at the Ministry’s conference room in Ilorin.
The Commissioner stressed that the AbdulRazaq led administration has zero tolerance for drug abuse, noting that various preventive methods will be set up to curb the menace.
The Special Assistant to the Governor on Drug Abuse, Prevention and Control, Aleiru Mukail Olamilekan whose office organized the stakeholders meeting, noted that the issue of drug abuse among the youths has posed significant threat to the well-being of the state.
He stated the need to have a trust fund, where individuals and private firms can donate to for the fight against drug abuse.
According to the Kwara State National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Commandant, Mallam Mohammed Bashir, the prevalence of substance usage is increasing on a daily basis, noting that urgent measures are required to curb the trend.
He stressed that the NDLEA is working on developing a substance based policy, which according to him needs the support of individuals, private organisations, and the government to help pass it into law.
He stressed the need for all necessary stakeholders to help bring some active groups like the Boys Scouts, Girls Brigade, literary debates, spelling bee competitions and sports back to secondary schools, to help create avenues where lectures can be delivered on menace of substance usage, he stressed.
The Commandant urged parents and elders to make positive impacts on the lives of the youths by addressing issues of substance usage and abuse.
In her contribution, the Kwara State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Dr. Mary Ronke Arinde, stressed the need to install closed-circuit television( CCTV) in student hostels in the various tertiary institutions across the state.
She also noted that the Kwara State Government is interested in eradicating the menace by collaborating with necessary student bodies, such as the Students Union Government (SUG).
Participants at the meeting were representative of International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) Pastor Ade Bodunde, stressed the need to put all hands on deck by helping the government achieve the aim of preventing and reducing drug usage in the state.
According to him, appropriate intervention needs to be made to give hope of total eradication. He noted that there should be budgets made for drug free programmes in schools in the state, to create awareness to reach the kids before the drugs reach them.
Another participant, the Senior Special Assistant to the state Governor on security, Muyideen Aliyu, admonished the stakeholders not to be diplomatic about the issue of substance usage.
He stressed that the Ministry of Tertiary Education should invite the heads of schools in the state to enlighten them on the government’s stand on matters of drugs in the state, which they will in turn create awareness amongst their staff.
Another participant, the Program Manager, Ajike People’s Support Centre, also advised the government to set up a Drug Control Agency, which will help cushion logistics problems and give support to the bodies fighting against substance usage in the state.
Salami Wasiu, the Special Assistant on Student Affairs, stressed the need for functional guidance and counseling units in secondary and tertiary schools across the state.
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