Kwara state Flags Off Drug Abuse Seminar For Lg Administrators

The Kwara State Government, North Central Nigeria has flagged off a 2-day training seminar on Drug Prevention, Treatment and Care for Local Government Administrators, Non-Governmental Organizations, and Youth Organizations, among others in the State.

The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Mamman Saba Jubril, represented at the occasion by the Permanent Secretary, Political, Cabinet, and Special Services, Mrs. Esther Folashade Oluyomi disclosed that “what we are witnessing today has further demonstrated the collective efforts of NDLEA and the State Government’s determination to combat the menace of drug abuse and control, in order to safeguard the future of our dear State”.

The SSG commended the State Commandant of the NDLEA for extending its campaign to the Third Tier of Government, which will adequately assist in curtailing illicit drug usage in our society.

Prof. Jubril reiterated the commitment of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to this programme as a further indication of the present administration’s willingness to continue to build the capacity of the Local Government Councils and give them the necessary support.

Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development,  Abdullahi Abubakar Bata commended the organisers of the workshop, which has brought together relevant stakeholders and other concerned organizations involved in the administration of Local Government to brainstorm and profer seamless solutions to the increasing wave of drug abuse in our society.

The Commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Iyabo Modupe Adekeye appreciated the Council Chairmen and their Management Teams for their cooperation and achievements so far.

Bata described the success story the state is celebrating today in the administration of Local Government as being the efforts of Governor AbdulRazaq, who has ensured that the lost glory of the Council in the State is restored.

According to him, “the present administration since assumption of office has implemented far reaching policies and programmes, geared towards the wellbeing of the citizenry and also worthy of mention are the developmental strides targeted towards the absorption of our teeming Youths from being job seekers to job creators”.

He, however, appealed to the participants to take full advantage of the knowledge acquired at the workshop and encouraged them to put the knowledge to practice in their respective councils so that the effects of drug abuse could be reduced to the barest minimum.

Also speaking, the Chairman  of Ifelodun Local Government, who also doubles as the ALGON Chairman,  Jide Ashonibare, on behalf of his colleagues, thanked the State Governor for allowing the councils to operate without interference and identifying with the yearnings of their people in the provision of dividends of democracy.

The ALGON Boss further reiterated the commitment of the Chairmen to ensuring that campaigns against drug abuse are domesticated across the 16 Local Government Councils.

In his welcome address, the State Commander  of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr Muhammed Bashir Ibrahim thanked the participants for identifying with the agency in taking a comprehensive approach to reduce the use of illegal drugs.

The Commander  disclosed that the essence of the seminar was to take the campaign against drug abuse to all the communities through the Council Administrators being the closest to the people at the grassroots level.

He appealed to the youths to desist from taking hard drugs, noting that drug abuse does more harm than good to the body and brain.