Marwa warns against complacency in drug fight among youths

Marwa warns against complacency in drug fight among youths

The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd.), says the challenged of ensuring that youths stayed away from drugs and other illicit substances lie with everybody, including governments, parents and other stakeholders.

He warned that that complacency from any quarter could lead to compromising the bright future ahead of the youth population.

Marwa spoke on Thursday at Sheraton Hotel, Lagos, venue of the Realnews Magazine 10th year anniversary lecture.

He said, “Let me leave us with a thought-provoking submission about the danger of complacency in tackling drug abuse among youth. By 2030, demographic factors project the number of people using drugs to rise by 11 per cent around the world, and as much as 40 per cent in Africa alone. This is an early warning that we should all ensure that we keep our young people away from dangerous substances that compromise the bright future ahead of them.”

He said instead of benefitting from the advantages of the huge youth population in Nigeria, the reverse may be the case if relevant stakeholders fail to stand up and join ongoing efforts against the drug scourge.

“It is globally recognised that one of Africa’s comparative advantages is its huge youth population. This country, Nigeria, for instance, has no less than 151 million young people, accounting for 70 per cent of our estimated 217 million population. Youth means creativity, strength, resourcefulness and productivity. But how do we rake in these benefits when a significant number of this population is involved in the abuse of illicit substances?  The truth is instead of a boon they could become a burden because of abuse of illicit substances,” he added.

He said the NDLEA has initiated some youth-focused measures in response to ensure that young people have the information and develop the resilience to make good choices, especially as it relates to drug abuse.

Marwa added, “Such measures include, “War Against Drug Abuse campaign, a grassroots-oriented advocacy which we are using to diffuse anti-drug sentiment across the various strata of our society; NDLEA Twitter Space where drug issues are discussed by experts from within the country and around the world to an audience of young people; a 24/7 Drug Abuse call centre with a toll-free helpline: 0800 1020 3040, which allows drug users, their families and employers to seek treatment without compromising their identities or safety, as well as open-door treatment at 26 NDLEA treatment facilities across the country.”

Speaking earlier at a debrief workshop on Controlled Delivery Exercise of Drug Trafficking for Law Enforcement in Nigeria and Cote De’voire organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC and ECOWAS Commission, Marwa noted that the capacity building training had further increased efficiency in tackling the scourge of drug trafficking, which in recent years had become one of the most devastating threats to the human race.