The declaration of a state of emergency on drugs and substance abuse by President Muhammadu Buhari is highly commendable. The craze for substance abuse in the country at present is worrisome and has reached a level where a presidential intervention is inevitable. This welcome development is one legacy that will continue to speak in favour of this administration for many generations. The unprecedented dimension of drug and substance abuse in the country has thrown many families in disarray as they scamper for elusive solutions. The word of Mr President that this is a situation of emergency that deserves an urgent solution is absolutely comforting to parents and observers of the alarming state of drug abuse in the country.
To most stakeholders, the inauguration of the two-tier ministerial and presidential advisory committee on the elimination of drug abuse is timely. The use of drugs particularly by youths constitutes a major public health and social concern. As rightly observed by the President, Nigeria has moved from a transit country to a user nation. It is a multi-faceted problem affecting both the young and old people of different backgrounds. On the one hand is the debilitating health condition of people using drugs particularly their mental health implications. Additionally, the numerous socio-economic problems of school dropout, increase in crime rate, as well as low productivity, are challenges demanding immediate solutions.
The composition of the committee is not only credible but has also gone a long way in justifying the position of Nigerians that capable persons should be allowed to offer their expertise in national affairs. They include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha; Brig-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.); former Director General of the NDLEA, Otunba Lanre Ipimisho; the President’s wife, Aisha, wife of the vice president, Mrs Oludolapo Osinbajo; representatives of the Governors’ Wives’ Forum among others. These are men and women with the capacity to generate the much-needed drug policies and provide strategic direction and guidance on drug issues.
The committee must, however, bear in mind that Nigerians are anxiously waiting for a speedy turnaround in the drug control sector. In spite of the strategic role of the sector in national security. It is disturbing that it is one of the most neglected in terms of budgetary allocations. As a result, the committee is expected to urgently provide funds to lubricate the machinery of the NDLEA by providing operational logistics as well as provide funds to address the welfare deficit of officers thereby boosting their morale. This will rekindle their zest and determination to incapacitate criminal drug syndicates against all oppositions.
Modern drug control has gone beyond mere operational measures to drug demand control which is principally proactive in nature. There is no better time to articulate strategies in drug abuse preventive education, treatment and rehabilitation. Equally important is the need for research on countermeasures against substance and drug abuse. Drug policies like crop substitution, harm reduction and anti-drug campaign using social media and other platforms targeted at young people. Evidence-based drug preventive strategies must be made to substitute obsolete and unproductive policies.
The good initiative of the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah, in establishing a model rehabilitation centre in each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, must be fully implemented. This project which was launched a few years ago has remained on the drawing board due to lack of funds. It must, therefore, be resuscitated as it will help to provide quality counselling and rehabilitation services to persons with drug use disorders in the country. The presidential committee is expected to urgently implement the laudable visions of Abdallah by providing the necessary assistance to adequately tackle drug use, improve the welfare of staff and increase the staff strength through massive recruitment of fresh hands.
The objectives of Mr President in decimating the disastrous havoc of drug abuse on the fabrics of our society must enjoy the unalloyed support of all. This is one golden opportunity to rejuvenate the anti-narcotics campaign in the country. There is no luxury of time as the committee must act fast in re-positioning the fight against illicit drug production, trafficking and abuse. The committee must glide on the copious goodwill and prayers of stakeholders in obliterating the agonies of drug abuse.
Ofoyeju Mitchell,
Onipanu, Lagos State
08034088136
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