Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) has warned Nigerian youths against consumption of illict drug especially cannabis sativa which is used to cook food.
Marwa gave the warning at the 10th Anniversary lecture and investiture into the Hall of Fame organized by Real News Magazine and Publication Limited in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria.
Speaking during a paper presentation titled, ‘Drug Abuse Among Youths in Africa: Implication for Nigerian Economy and 2023 Election’ he regretted that traffickers have continued to manufacture and share illicit drugs despite the efforts of the agency to curtail the menace.
Marwa, who said the agency would not relent in its war on drug barons, declared that NDLEA would fight them to the end and would not stop prosecuting drug peddlers and users until the country is rid of from drugs.
According to the NDLEA boss, drug abuse among youths is an issue that cannot be ignored in today’s world because it is a growing concern for all countries and a problem area for humanity.
“In the past two decades, we have seen a dramatic rise in drug abuse around the world and more than ever before, the situation is becoming complicated and dire.
“In Africa, where countries are struggling with development issues, it is recognised that the prevalence of drug use among youths will impact the future of the continent, for better or for worse, depending on how we respond to the trend. Therefore, countries must attend to the problem. Just as we devote energy, time and resources to climate change to save the planet, we must also deploy the same strength, sentiment and systems to curb drug abuse among youths to secure the future of coming generations”, he said.
According to Gen Marwa, Nigeria cannot underestimate the dangers of drug abuse due to the country’s illicit drug statistics.
“This is why every opportunity for public discourse on this subject matter is highly appreciated because keeping drug issues on the front burner in society is one way of catalysing solutions to the scourge.
“Nigerians are not ignorant about drug trafficking and drug abuse issues. The activities of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in the past 22 months have given our society a clear picture, certainty and the severity of the drug problem in the country”, he added.
The NDLEA boss explained that the arrest of 19,341 drug offenders and subsequent conviction of 3,111 in addition to the seizure of 5.5 million kilograms of assorted drugs in 22 months are incontrovertible facts of a deeply entrenched illicit drug subculture.
He noted that Nigerians cannot pretend now not to know that our young people are abusing illicit drugs because youths have an overt drug lifestyle.
UNODC World Drug Reports 2021 and 2022
“The empirical facts around us speak volumes about how young people are abusing dangerous substances. However, we may not have a grasp of the depth of this decadence until we begin to see statistics and other data. I will highlight a few facts from United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, (UNODC). Over the past year, around 275 million people have used drugs, up by 22 per cent from 2010. Of the increase, over 50% are youths”, he explained.
According to the UNODC, more young people are using drugs compared with previous generations.
Young people continue to use more drugs than adults, and have higher levels of use than in past generations.
“It is globally recognised that one of Africas comparative advantages is its huge youth population. This country, Nigeria, for instance, has no less than 151 million young people, accounting for 70% of our estimated 217 million populations. Most of us don’t know what that means. Youth means creativity, strength, resourcefulness and productivity. But how do we rake in these benefits when a significant number of this population is involved in the abuse of illicit substances?
The truth is instead of a boon they could become a burden because of abuse of illicit substances. With such a huge youth population, you can begin to think that the election in the country will be won by a youth referendum, but with so many youths involved in drug abuse, they can hardly make the kind of strong impact that people envisage; just as they cannot hold down a job, they also cannot exhibit prudent electoral choices or execute the civic duty of voting. What you end up having is the phenomenon of self-disenfranchisement among young people because those who are into drug abuse will readily make themselves available as tools for irrational activities such as electoral thuggery and violence”, Marwa lamented.
Way Forward
Marwa, however, recommended some ways to tackling illicit drugs menace to nclude:
The development of national drug prevention systems that reaches children as early as possible in their development and focus on building resilience.
Reaching out to and involving adolescents, disseminating prevention messages on social media and other online platforms, promoting prevention and treatment options for young people who use drugs and young people with drug use disorders
“By 2030, demographic factors project the number of people using drugs to rise by 11 per cent around the world and as much as 40 per cent in Africa alone.
“This is an early warning that we should all ensure that we keep our young people away from dangerous substances that compromise the bright future ahead of them,” he added.
Earlier in her address, the publisher of Real nNews Magazine and Publication Limited, Mrs Maureen Chigbo had regretted the high consumption of illicit drugs by youths and described the situation as scary and disheartening.
She said the current state of consumption of illicit drugs by Nigerian youths is pathetic as they are losing potential to serve the nation.
