PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Monday inaugurated the twin Presidential Intervention Structure on the Elimination of Drug and Substance Abuse, appointing his wife, Aisha, into the committee.
The committee made up of Presidential Intervention Structure of the Ministerial Committee and Presidential Advisory Committee on the Elimination of Drug Abuse is headed by former Military Administrator of Lagos State, Brig-Gen. Buba Marwa (rtf), also have the wife of Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo and the representative of Governors Wives Forum.
While performing the ceremony in the council chamber of the presidential villa, Abuja, the president called for collective action to help those affected by drugs build a new life.
The president was saddened that the challenges associated with drug abuse had grown to become a major public health problem in the country.
He observed that from a transit nation, Nigeria had now been internationally recognized as a user nation, as he recalled the disheartening statistics of several reports including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency which revealed that about three million codeine syrups bottles were consumed daily in Kano and twice that amount in the North-West region of Nigeria alone.
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He said: “This is a situation of emergency and we must face and address it as such,’’ he said.
According to him, the use and abuse of drugs by adolescents have become one of the most disturbing health-related phenomena in Nigeria and other parts of the world.
“Many schools going adolescents experience mental health issues, either temporarily or for a long period of time. Some become insane, cannot remain in schools and eventually drop out.
“Drug and alcohol abuse are also major occupational hazards among Nigerian workers, professionals, notably drivers, which contribute to making Nigerian roads particularly dangerous. The drugs that are commonly abused include but not limited to alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine, Tramadol, codeine, etc.
“Today marks the beginning of another milestone in correcting the root cause of some of the ills of today’s society in order to safeguard our common existence and guarantee a brighter future for our current generation and those yet on born.
“The role is specifically targeted at decimating the disastrous havoc that drug abuse could cause on the very fabric of our society.’’
On the appointment of his wife into the committee, the president stated: “The appointment of the Wives of the President and the Vice-President, as well as the Chairpersons of the North and South Governors’ Wives Forum as members of this committee, is in recognition of their concerted efforts to the course of eradicating the menace of drug abuse from our society.
“Additionally, the participation of the First Ladies is meant to spur further involvement of women and mothers in particular, in view of the significant role they play in parenting and care.
“It is therefore expected that Governors’ Wives across the federation will take the lead in replicating this intervention structure at the states and local government levels.”
Buhari commended his wife for demonstrating passion and commitment to the cause by galvanizing the participation of First Ladies from the states through the Governors’ Wives Forum to conduct an assessment of the challenge in their respective domains, with the view to proffering measures to combat the menace.
Also speaking, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha described drug abuse epidemic as a national emergency that calls for concerted and collaborative actions by all tiers of government, Non-Governmental Organisations, Development Partners, Civil Society Organisations and religious and traditional leaders.
According to him, it will in the long term, be more dangerous than any other challenges facing the nation, including the insurgency of not adequately tackled.
