NDLEA, WAANSA establish joint anti-drug club in Premiere Academy

The Head of the Federal Capital Territory Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mr. Kabiru Tsakuwa, has promised to give support to the establishment of the War Against Drug Abuse Club in Premiere Academy, Lugbe Abuja, in recognition of the school’s potential to help propagate the Agency’s aggressive anti-drug campaign among youths in the FCT.

Mr. Tsakuwa, who was represented by the Commander of Narcotics and Deputy Head of the Command, Mr. Asa Ayodeji Oluwole, made this promise last week during a sensitization campaign against drug abuse held in the premises of the Abuja School.

The sensitization campaign with the theme “Avoid Drugs Instead of Experiment” was jointly organised by NDLEA and the West African Action Network on Small Arms, WAANSA.

Mr. Tsakuwa asserted that the sensitization campaign was part of the Agency’s mandate to reduce the prevalence of drug abuse in the society by co-opting the younger ones into the fight against drug abuse. He described this resolve as an important strategy in the campaign for a drug-free Nigeria.

He implored youths in the country to resist pressures from their peers to indulge in illegal drugs and other substances that could truncate their future and promised that the establishment of a Drug Free club in the school would offer students great opportunities to interact and discuss on the consequences of drug abuse and the need to shun use of illegal drugs.

The Chief Superintendent of Narcotics, NDLEA, Mr. Augustine Nduka, who highlighted the different types of substances and drugs, noted that some may not be banned, but have lasting negative impact on victims.

Demonstrating the dangers of illicit drugs and alcoholic drinks, Mr. Nduka noted that drug addiction has exacerbated chronic illnesses among Nigerians and highlighted some measures to help victims of such anomaly.

According to him, illicit drug addiction “is not only a disease of the brain, but also a relapsing disease whose victims could only be helped through rehabilitation, otherwise they would only end up in the streets”.

In his own submission, the 1st Regional Vice President of WAANSA, Mr. Martins Igwe, urged the students to remain hardworking and resist evil peer pressure to abuse drugs, noting that drug abuse has remained a major killer of Nigerian Youths.

While appealing to parents to continue to sustain the anti-drug sensitization efforts at home, Igwe said the dangers of indulging in abuse of substances are far reaching as they gradually destroy the human system and mental health and could eventually lead to death and trauma for the entire family.

The Principal of the school, Mr. Chris Akinsowon, thanked the NDLEA and WAANSA delegations for the enlightenment campaign and the promise to establish the WADA Club in the School.

Mr. Akinsowon observed that the School had regularly come up with various strategic initiatives to guide the students against drug abuse, adding that the NDLEA/WAANSA Sensitization effort was one of such strategic partnership initiatives.

He described the anti-narcotics campaign in schools with the aim of sensitizing students at the foundation level to the dangers of drug abuse as an important nation-building campaign that deserves the support of all. He said the effort would go a long way in helping Nigerian youths on ways to avoid illicit drug intake and also help them in choosing the right company and friends.

Highlight of the event was the presentation of a special commendation award to the WAANSA 1st regional vice president and the FCT NDLEA commander for their efforts to rid Abuja and its environs of negative activities and behaviours. The awards were presented by the Principal, Mr. Chris Akinsowon and the Supervising Director, Mr. Akin Oladapo.

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