From Olukayode Idowu, Abuja
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA and a non-governmental organisation, Youth and Public Safety Awareness Initiative, YPSAI have agreed to partner on efforts towards eliminating drug abuse in Nigeria.
The agreement was reached on Monday when the executive chairman of the NGO, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Yusuf (Retd) led a team of other executives of the organisation on a courtesy visit to the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd).
The YPSAI chairman during his presentation to the NDLEA boss, said his “organisation will be most glad to partner with NDLEA to effectively tackle the menace of drug abuse, trafficking, and to treat victims of drug abuse and train youths on skill acquisition for a better society.
He said these “will contribute immensely to national peace, unity and progress of the country.”
Giving a breakdown of how he intends to support the work of the anti-drug law enforcement agency, Yusuf said “”we intend to build a rehabilitation centre in the states/local government headquarters for drug abuse addicts to rehabilitate them.”
He added that: “Our NGO has a team of like minds, dedicated to offer their selfless services for the peace, unity and progress of the country in our generation and future ones.”
He expressed worry over the number of Nigerians abusing drugs and called for collective efforts to confront the scourge.
He lamented that the “United Nations estimates that over 100 million people are engaged in drug and substance abuse in the world of which Nigeria constitutes a very high rate.
He said: “Despite the fact that drug abuse in Nigeria has reached frightening dimension, we can effectively tackle the menace.”
He said YPSAI remains committed to inculcating in youths, the need to be aware of harmful practices within their environment and the general society; to stay away from drug and substance abuse in order to keep themselves and the society safe.
In his response, Marwa commended YPSAI for their good works in the areas of drug demand reduction and rehabilitation of drug addicts at subsidised rates.
He said because the NGO parades an array of professionals in its management team, their record of activities and commitment to the war against illicit drugs in the country, NDLEA would be willing to partner with them.
“He said: “We have taken note of your presentations, we are interested in some of your ideas and we will set up further talks between your team and our officials with a view to identifying areas of collaboration“.”