Sir: Drug trafficking and abuse are deadly monsters and as well a threat to peace, security and stability of a nation. As a global problem, it has eaten deep into the security and moral fabrics of many nations of the world. There’s hardly any country in the world that doesn’t battle one drug related issue or the other.
Drug trafficking and abuse are Siamese twins. If drug trafficking can be nipped in the bud, drug abuse will as well be reduced to the barest minimum. In Nigeria, drug abuse has remained a dangerous enabler of many crimes and vices.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has been doing wonderfully well. They have been on top of the game most especially since Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) assumed office as the helmsman. There have been tremendous transformation of the operational architecture of the agency and hence mind boggling successes recorded.
The re- jigged operational procedure where numerous arrests and seizures have become the order of the day has no doubt sent many traffickers packing while the hard-hearted ones have continued even while nursing their wounds as a result of multi- billion naira losses.
Despite the achievements recorded in the area of arrests and seizures, there still remain more grounds to be covered against drugs. Such places like palaces, churches, market places, labour unions, schools should be explored for an elaborate sensitisation with the aim of collaborating with heads of the various institutions mentioned above.
Traditional rulers should be actively involved in the fight against drug enlightenment in their domains. It will go a long way to reduce the way hard drugs and other substances of abuse are tackled in their communities.
Religious institutions must be encouraged to live up to their expectation as the moral compass of the society. As such they can take part in drug preventive programmes.
In the same vein, organizations have roles to play in reducing the rising drug demand. They can incorporate drug use policies and drug prevention programs into their operational procedures while schools can equally make drug education part of their curriculum.
It is my belief that with collective efforts of the various stakeholders and synergy among sister agencies, a safe and sane society devoid of huge substance abuse will be realized in Nigeria.
•Ijeoma Okeme,
Ejigbo, Lagos State.