Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports
President Muhammadu Buhari is resolved to combat the growing problem of drug misuse among Nigerian youngsters, according to ASABA-MINISTER of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Muhammad, on Tuesday.
Mohammed said that the Federal Government is doing everything possible to ensure that it succeeds in its fight against drug abuse in Nigeria. He made this statement at the opening ceremony of the two-day Annual Roundtable on Cultural Orientation, or ARTCO, organized by the National Institute for Cultural Orientation, or NICO, in Asaba, Delta state.
The Minister said that President Muhammadu Buhari was well aware of the alarming prevalence of drug misuse, particularly among Nigerian youths, through Memunat Idu-lah, Director, International Cultural Relations, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.
He praised the Executive Secretary and Management of the NICO for launching the roundtable and for maintaining trust with its rigorous implementation over the years, saying urgent actions had been taken to counter the threat.
He claimed that the theme of this year’s conference, “Culture, Drug Abuse and the Future of the Nigerian Youth,” puts a number of important concerns front and center that need to be treated seriously at all levels.
He made a plea to important parties, including parents, religious institutions, civil society organizations, the media, and others, to play their part in educating young people about the negative effects of drug misuse.
Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NICO, Mr. Mohammed Yahuza, stated in his welcome speech that 40% of Nigerian youngsters had a serious drug misuse problem.
According to the United Nations Office for Drug Control (UNODC), Nigerians take drugs three times more frequently than those in the rest of the world on average. 29,4 million Nigerians take drugs recreationally, according to data from the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
“One of the Institute’s main programs, ARTCO, brings together a variety of interest groups, relevant stakeholders, researchers, and academics to discuss and exchange ideas on pressing cultural issues. We hope that program recommendations will have an impact on government initiatives and policies.
In his remarks, Delta State Governor Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa urged reorientation and drug misuse prevention education for young people in Nigeria.
If we don’t take action right away and begin this reorientation, everything will blow up in our faces, said Okowa. Since it is timely, we should all pay attention to it. It is time to do action rather than merely talking about it.
“This is only one strategy to deal with it. We go to schools, secondary schools, and higher education institutions, put it into theatre, act it up, and put it into practice.
