The Federal Government has been urged to take measures to tackle the rising cases of drug abuse among young Nigerians.
The Nigerian youths and children, on the other hand have been warned against the dangers of illicit drug and the need for them to avoid such dangerous habit in order to safeguard their future.
This was disclosed by Afam Paulkinson Umeano, Africa regional coordinator, Mass Initiative for Non-illicit Drug Society (MINDS), while speaking during a sensitisation programme organised by the organisation for children at the Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit, Omole, Ikeja.
Umeano said the organisation decided to focus on young Nigerians so that such dangerous habit could be checked, discouraged and stamped out in their mind-set at an early age.
He lamented that successive administrations in the country had not done enough to check the alarming rate of drug abuse among young Nigerians, stressing that it had aided the surge in crime in the country.
Umeano added that the goal was to change the narrative in the information and entertainment content towards the adoption of healthier and sober lifestyle, stressing that it also aimed at presenting sobriety and decency as more appealing lifestyle options for the young generation of Nigerians and Africans.
According to him, “Our society is rife with illicit drugs and substances of abuse, and new ones are daily being locally discovered or manufactured just as more and more vulnerable youngsters are entering the world of illicit drugs and mind-bending substances.
“Some years ago, we said let’s rescue Nigeria from drug abuse; it is a big problem in Nigeria, and other countries are doing enough but here we are taking a back-seat.
“We want to catch them young, stop the act, and educate them so they can be informed about it. We want to stop the children first, that is the reason for the focus on them. You would be surprised that in many primary schools, pupils from seven years are abusing drugs,” Afam said.
Ogunluyi Titilope, head of Drug Demand Reduction Unit of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), lamented that drug abuse had become prevalent among young Nigerians in recent years, while charging parents and guardians to redouble their efforts in monitoring and taking care of their children.
She advised Nigerian children and the youth against taking drugs that are not prescribed for them by medical personnel, adding that several Nigerians had lost their lives to the act.
According to her, “I want to advise you to avoid abusing drugs; don’t take any drug that is not prescribed by medical personnel. Drug abuse can damage your future and end your dreams.
“It has a long time effect on you; take enough water, read your books and avoid bad friends. Also, obey your parents,” she said.
Parish Priest of Catholic Church of Holy Spirit, Michael Ogunniyi, said the church decided to embrace the programme because it was necessary the children are educated on the dangers of the act.
Ogunniyi advised young Nigerians to shun any act that would jeopardise their future and academics.
Iniobong Iwok
