Delta takes campaign against drug abuse to Ughelli North ~ Truth Reporters

 

… Inaugurates Drug Control Vanguard

By Balogun Mabamije

For stronger and more secured state, the Delta State Government under the leadership of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has taken the campaign against drug abuse and illicit trafficking to Ughelli North Local Government Area, just as he inaugurated the Drug Control Vanguard in the locality. 

In an address to participants, drawn from various secondary schools in Ughelli North Local Government Area, during the sensitization workshop, held at the council Secretariat yesterday, the governor said that the threat of the effects of drug abuse and illicit trafficking on mankind were real and numerous.

The governor who was represented by the coordinator of the campaign against drug in the state, SSA to the governor on Social Works, Mrs Pally Eghove, said that drugs related problems were not just the negative effects on the users but the rippling effects on the economy, politics, development, peace and security.

He lamented that youths who were expected to be the engine room of our economy and society had been lured into drug trafficking because of the enormous profit that accrued from it and had overtime become dependent users.

Okowa noted that a more worrisome phenomenon in recent times was the nexus between drugs, crimes and terrorism, which had led to increase in social vices such as kidnapping, armed robbery, killing for ritual purpose and cultism, just because hard drugs, now than before, were more easily accessible.

He said that another disturbing aspect was the issue of drug money and politics, where drug barons use their ill-gotten wealth to distort democratic processes, giving room for electoral malpractice during elections in different parts of the country and other nations.

He disclosed that to make the fight against drug abuse to be more effective, a rehabilitation center is being built where those with issues of drug dependence would be given proper medical attention and be rehabilitated and reintegrated into the society.

He added that those without skills would be trained in various vocations so that when they come out, they could become useful to themselves and the society.

In a separate interview, the SSA to the governor on Social Works, Mrs Pally Eghove said that the state government was not alone in the fight against drug abuse but in collaboration with the police and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, which she noted had shown integrity under this dispensation.

Eghove said participants were drawn from secondary schools so as to be able to sensitise them at this young age and win them before they become adamant to correction, just as she assured members of the Drug Control Vanguard of Government protection.

The Ughelli North Leader of the legislative arm, Rt Hon. James Efenedo in his remarks charged participants to use the knowledge gotten to their advantage and be proactive towards the fight against drug abuse.

Efenedo added that drug abuse was dangerous to humanity and as such, drug traffickers should not be covered, charging all present with the slogan that, "say something when you see something."