As parts of efforts to tackle rising substance abuse among youths and other vulnerable groups, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), National Headquarters Annex, Ikoyi Lagos on Thursday, defied the rainfall to stage a high-impact awareness campaign on some roads in Ikoyi and Victoria Island, Lagos in commemoration of this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The sensitisation walk led by the Director, NDLEA Seaport Operations, Mrs. Archie-Abia Ibanabo Ogboba, attracted no fewer than 250 participants drawn from different departments of NDLEA, State Security Services, Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Nigeria Police Force, Central Investigation Department (CID Alagbon), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), NGOs, Women Initiative for Advocacy, Aramex Company, Redstar Express Company, and Cross Country among others.
This year’s theme ”The evidence is clear: Invest in prevention; (break the circle),” formed the thrust of the sensitization campaign, which attracted other key stakeholders and civil society actors.
The event featured a placard walk, dance, and singing across major roads in Ikoyi and Victoria Island while sharing information materials and flyers on drug abuse, bearing impactful messages designed to spark conversations and educate the public. In order to reach a wider audience, the anti-drug campaign messages were delivered in major Nigerian languages of Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, and Pidgin English. Participants also re-echoed the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration and applauded the NDLEA for prioritizing prevention and youth engagement in its anti-drug campaigns.
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Speaking shortly before the commencement of the walk, Ogboba stressed that the campaign was not an NDLEA thing, but a global concern that affects everyone irrespective of geographical boundaries. She noted that drug addiction and substance abuse are increasingly growing into public health crises, which demand everyone’s support and contributions via empathetic solutions and not punishment or stigmatization. She charged participants to collectively promote awareness, prevention, and rehabilitation as the sustainable path forward.
“We are going out for this campaign to sensitise Nigerians, especially the youths, to stay out of drugs and substances as well as crime. If we do not take the messages to them on the streets, who will do it? This is a national duty, as what we are doing here today is being replicated across the country and the globe. We thank you for your support,” she added.