The National Orientation Agency said the Federal Government was committed to the fight against drug abuse in the country.
The Director-General of NOA, Dr. Garba Abari, said this on Thursday, during an anti-drug abuse sensitisation programme organised at Federal Government Boys College, Abuja.
The event was organised by a non-governmental organization, Don’t Shame the Name Advocacy Foundation, in conjunction with NOA and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
Abari, who was represented by the Chief Programme Officer, NOA, Robinson Okechi, said the event was necessary as young persons were vulnerable to drug abuse.
He commended DSTNAF for providing the platform to discuss one of the burning issues of national discourse.
According to him, drug abuse and trafficking are of great concern to the federal government.
He said that the event with the theme, ‘Eliminating the scourge of Illicit drug use and Trafficking among the Youths’ was apt and commended the organisers for their catch-them-young efforts.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the NOA boss pledged the support of the agency to the organisation in its efforts to save young people from drug abuse.
Assistant Superintendent Narcotics, Oluwafemi Daniel, who represented NDLEA at the event said substance abuse affects the behaviour of victims and advised the students to abstain from indulging in it.
Joseph Ayalogu, former Ambassador of Nigeria to Switzerland and former Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, said a lot of countries have strict laws against drug use and trafficking.
He advised the students to conduct themselves responsibly and study well.
“There is a very serious concern globally about drugs. It gives a bad name to a country, so sensitisation is the key,” he advised.
The Principal of the School, Mr. Zacharia Magaji, who was represented by the Vice-Principal, of student affairs of the Senior School, Julius Faleye, commended the NGO for choosing the school for the programme.
He said it was necessary that teenagers gain insight into the impact of drug abuse in their lives and society at large.
The President and Founder of the NGO, Adaku Dike, said she was motivated to undertake the programme due to the high level of crime caused by drugs in the society.
According to her, she started the sensitisation in primary schools because even primary school children are not left out of drug-related issues and abuse.
According to her, drug abuse could be linked to most of the vices in society such as kidnapping, killings, and trafficking and expressed optimism that the programme would impact positively the students.
The Mayor, Actors Guild of Nigeria, Ugochukwu Ohuonu said the group was using entertainment to enlighten students on the effects of drug abuse.
Two students of the school, Masters Donald Oboh and Abdullahi Shuaibu said the programme exposed them to the dangers of drug abuse.
They promised to sensitise other students on the need to stay away from drugs.
NAN reports that the highlight of the programme was a drama presentation on the dangers of illicit drugs and the presentation of stickers on the dangers of illicit drugs to the school.
(NAN)