Thursday, June 27, 2024 -President Bola Tinubu has affirmed his support for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in its efforts to combat substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
He made this
commitment during the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit
Trafficking, also known as World Drug Day, held on Wednesday, June 26, at the
State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
Femi Babafemi, the director of media and
advocacy at NDLEA headquarters in Abuja, shared this information in a statement
to reporters. The theme for the day was "The Evidence is Clear: Invest in
Prevention."
Representing President Tinubu, the
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, urged Nigerians to
support the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, which was launched by
NDLEA three years ago.
He said;
“I commend and urge everyone to redouble
their efforts to combat drug abuse and trafficking in the country. On this
score, I wish to reassure you of this administration’s support. The Renewed
Hope Agenda places the youth at the center of its focus.
“Therefore, we ensure that our young people
are protected from anything that could derail their future or destroy their
potential. In the face of such a formidable challenge, prevention is the most
potent weapon that we can deploy. Prevention not only saves lives; it also
saves resources that would otherwise be spent on treatment and rehabilitation.
“It empowers
individuals to make informed choices, promotes healthy lifestyles, and creates
resilient communities capable of withstanding the pressures of drug abuse.
“Investing
in prevention is not merely a moral imperative but also a prudent way of
safeguarding our future. By allocating resources towards evidence-based
prevention programs, we can break the vicious cycle of drug abuse and protect
our youth from falling prey to this menace.
“The task
before us as a nation requires prioritizing evidence-based prevention
strategies, allocating adequate resources, and fostering partnerships for
greater impact.
“This
government will support the NDLEA in building on the successes recorded in the
past few years. We shall work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that we
have positive statistics from the next national drug use survey to be conducted
in the country.
“This is an assignment for all patriotic citizens of this country, including religious leaders, traditional leaders, educational institutions, opinion leaders, and civil society organizations. NDLEA has created a formidable platform for cooperation through its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy initiative.”
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