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Tag: drug

  • Drug abuse: How to protect Nigeria’s future

    Drug abuse: How to protect Nigeria’s future

    By Adekunbi Lawal

    Sir: The recent concerns about inclusivity for youths in Nigerian politics and other endeavours speak volumes about a country that cares for its future. More than 60 per cent of Nigeria’s mammoth population of over 200 million is in the youth range. Therefore, policies and politics should include this critical group to prepare them to take over the leadership of the country.

    However, attention ought to be paid to other factors in our country’s social developments that could truncate the bright future of Nigerian youths. Right now, the government needs to clamp down on vices that young people freely indulge in. Among those vices that can “assassinate” the future of youths is the abuse of illicit substances, which unfortunately has become rampant in the country presently. 

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    It has been proven beyond doubt that the abuse of these psychoactive substances and psychotropic drugs is not harmless. Academic failure, juvenile delinquency, and mental health instability are some of the consequences of young people’s indulgence in illicit substances. Usually, the burden is passed to families and relatives, and ultimately to the society. 

    In the past 30 months or thereabouts, NDLEA and other relevant organisations have been up and running. 

    The NDLEA recently declared recreational use of nitrous oxide popularly called laughing gas as a menace that must be stopped in the country. This step is highly commendable because Nitrous oxide is mostly abused by partygoers, mostly youths. They even advertise the substance on social media, in balloons and containers. Our memory is still fresh of how the abuse of methamphetamine, popularly known as “Mkpuru mmiri,” rocked southeast Nigeria in 2022. And we are still grappling with widespread abuse of cannabis, a substance smoked with impunity by young people and their role models in urban and rural areas. 

    There was also the widespread abuse of tramadol and codeine, which in 2022 was on a dreadful scale before the NDLEA, NAFDAC, and Customs crackdown on the pharmaceutical opioids.

    However, it needs to be emphasised that the family, which is the first agent of socialisation, should be at the forefront of the effort to ensure that young people are not derailed. 

    Parents and guardians have first contact with teenagers and therefore should put more effort into ensuring that their futures are not destroyed by the abuse of illicit substances. 

    The onus is therefore on parents and guardians who are aware that their young ones are abusing these drugs and substances or even have the faintest idea that they might have been experimenting with them to raise the alarm and help get them the appropriate help. 

    We also need to broaden the drug abuse discussion in the country. In doing so, young people should be brought to the roundtable. It will not be out of place to have drug abuse-related subjects (with emphasis on the dangers to human wellbeing) in the country’s education curriculum, especially in secondary school and as general courses in tertiary institutions. This will afford young people the requisite knowledge about illicit substances as they grow and advance in their academic endeavours.

    Adekunbi Lawal,  Jabi, Abuja.

  • Drug abuse: Youths using embalming oil, paint, petrol – NDLEA

    The rate of drug abuse in Adamawa and other states around the  country is on the increase as addicts increasing resort to use of embalming oil, paint,  petrol, and such readily available  substances.
     
    The Head of Drug Reduction Unit of the Adamawa State Command of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Shehu Dankolo, who spoke to The Nation correspondent on drug abuse, said the resort to unconventional drugs resulted from the banning of cocaine and tightening of rules regarding the purchase and consumption of tramadol, diazephaem, tyre solution and other conventional drugs.
     
    Explaining the prevailing trend, Shehu Dankolo said, “Youths are increasingly using psychoactive substances. They are the substances in vogue now. Take for instance formalin, that is embalming oil, the fluid for embalming the dead. That one is sniffed now or orally taken. Formalin is used legally mostly in hospitals for embalming dead bodies but people have experimented with it and abuse it for mood altering purposes. They put it in a nylon bag and blow and draw on it.
    “There is rubber solution, otherwise called sholly, the one normally used in patching tyres. They blow and draw on it and it makes them feel on the air, as if they are flying. When you see someone in the street with his two hands up in the air as they walk, they most likely have taken rubber solution and feel they are flying.
    “Super glue is also now sniffed to get high. Then you have tipex, the substance that women apply on their nails. They sniff it. They also sniff petrol, then kerosine and paint. All these things are called organic solvents or inhailants.”
    According to him, the solvents have  worse effects on addicts than the prescription drugs hitherto abused. He explained, “These inhailants are number one in terms of drugs that cause irreversable effects. If you are hooked on it and it damages your brain, there is nothing anyone can do for you. And people who take such drugs are very difficult to manage, they are difficult to rehabilitate. After the counselling and rehabilitation we do here, if they go to school, they won’t understand anything. Organic solvents damage the brain faster and more acutely and in forms that are irreversable.”
    Speaking on the way out, he said the factors for drug abuse must be tackled and that laws need to be made to address the different substances being abused. He said, “Lack of relevant legislation or weakness in enforcing enacted laws encourage the festering of drug abuse. Those of them that are legislated upon, like tramadol, codeine, totolin, sodein, marijuana, cocaine, Indian hemp, diazepharm and all of that, they can be prosecuted, but when it comes to psychoactive substances, there is no  legislation to regulate their use and those who use them cannot be prosecuted in court.”

  • Teenager drugs roommate with tea, steals 918,000 properties

    A teenager, Divine Giwa, who allegedly drugged her roommate, Chioma Daniels, before stealing her cash and properties valued at N918,000, was on Tuesday brought before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    Giwa, 19, from Rivers State, was arraigned by the Ilasan Police Division, Lekki, on a one-count charge of stealing, marked NO T/38/2018, before M.F. Onanusi.

    Prosecuting counsel Ehizoba Godspower said the alleged incident occurred last September in the complainant’s home at Ajose Street, Ilasan in Lekki.

    He said in March 2017, at an eatery in Lekki, a friend begged the complainant to accommodate Giwa pending when she would be able to raise money to rent a place of her own.

    “They lived peacefully from March till one morning in September 2017, when the complainant told the defendant to prepare tea for both of them to drink.

    “The complainant drank the tea, not knowing it had been laced with a sleeping drug. It put her to sleep from 7am till around 10pm in the night. When she woke up, the defendant had fled with her money and properties.

    “The complainant later sighted the suspect at Lekki in June 2018. She raised the alarm following which passers-by helped apprehend the defendant.”

    The court heard that the stolen items were valued N918,000.

    They are: Three Ecolac bags containing clothes valued at N200,000, 30 pieces of shoes valued at N150,000.00, jewellery valued at N100,000.00, Zara make-up valued at N50,000.00, and three pieces of human hair wigs valued at N250,000.

    Others are eye glasses valued at N20,000, one Gionee smartphone valued at N100,000 and N48,000 cash.

    According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Giwa, pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Onanusi granted her N200,000 bail with one surety in the like sum.

    The case continues on August 1.

  • Court sentences five drug dealers to death

    Five drug traffickers have been sentenced to death and another six sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve in north China’s Shanxi Province, the Shanxi Provincial Higher People’s Court said on Tuesday.

    The Changzhi Intermediate People’s Court handed down the verdicts on 32 defendants in three drug-trafficking cases on Monday.

    “Fourteen were sentenced to life in prison and the remaining seven were given jail terms of no less than two years.

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    “In one case, 27 members of a drug ring were found guilty of trafficking methcathinone across provinces between August 2015 and March 2016,’’ the court said.

    Tuesday was International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

  • We won’t allow drug destroy our youths – Ambode

    •Govt launches ‘kick against drug abuse campaign’

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday said his administration will not allow the practice of drug abuse damage the future of the youths.

    The Governor said this at the flag off of the State Kicks Against Drug Abuse (LASKADA) at the LTV Blue-Roof, Ikeja.

    Represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tunji Bello, Ambode added that the increasing menace of drug abuse and its impact on the society in recent times is really on the high side.

    The present administration, he said, is committed to a more prosperous Lagos.

    He said the decision to commence the massive awareness was a response to the dangerous dimension that drug abuse has taken.

    He added that the establishment of youth-friendly centres in all the Local Government Areas/Local Government Development Areas is meant to serve as avenues for relaxation and to further engage the youths in productive ventures to reduce the menace of drug abuse.

    The Drug Dependent Rehabilitation Centres located in Isheri and Majidun, he said, were established to give support to young ones addicted to drugs.

    Ambode’s wife, Bolanle said the society cannot pretend that all is well, considering the unwholesome attitude of many youths who are drug addicts.

     

  • Unemployed jailed for drug

    A Federal High Court in Lagos at the weekend sentenced a 35-year-old unemployed, Muyideen Muili, to two years’ imprisonment for drug trafficking.

    The convict was arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on one- count charge of dealing in restricted narcotics.

    He appeared before Justice Hadiza Rabiu-Shagari and pleaded guilty.

    After his plea, the prosecutor, Mr. Jeremiah Aernan, reviewed the facts of the case before the court.

    He tendered a written statement of the convict, a bulk of exhibit, a request for scientific aid form, a drug analysis form as well as remnants of the restricted substance.

    The court, accordingly, admitted the evidence as exhibit.

    Delivering judgment, Rabiu-Shagari said she found the accused guilty as charged and convicted him.

    “The convict is hereby sentenced two years’ imprisonment, beginning from the date of his arrest,” the judge said.

    The prosecutor had told the court that the convict committed the offence on August 16.

    He said the convict was arrested at Asipa Street in Ojodu Berger, Lagos, with about 300kg of Cannabis Sativa, popularly called Indian hemp.

    Aernan said the offence contravened Section 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

    Before his sentence, the convict begged for leniency.

  • NDLEA arrests drug suspects

    Officials of Abia State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested three drug suspects on the premises of a primary school in Aba.

    The Commander, Dele Akingbade, said officials seized drugs weighing 800 grammes and a locally-made double barrel.

    Akingbade named the suspects as Charles Kelechi, 29, Osuji Uchechukwu, 22 and Obioha Lord Jenkins, 26.

    He said the arrests proved that “our men are determined to crack down on the activities of drug peddlers.”

    The NDLEA boss said that the suspects were being detained and questioned at their office in Aba.

  • NDLEA apprehends 235 drug offenders, seizes 334kg of drugs

    NDLEA apprehends 235 drug offenders, seizes 334kg of drugs

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Akwa Ibom Command, said on Sunday that it arrested 235 suspected drug offenders and seized 334.06 kilogrammes of drug from them in 2017.

    The command’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs Joy Agumuo, a Deputy Superintendent of Narcotics, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo.

    Agumuo said that of the 235 arrested, 191 were males while 44 were females.

    She said that there was a reduction in the number of suspects arrested and quantity of drug seized, compared to the 2016 figures of 301 suspects and 405.195 kg of drugs.

    The public relations officer revealed that during the period under review, 10 of the suspects were convicted and serving various jail terms.

    She said that the Drug Demand Reduction Unit of the agency counseled some addicts, adding that they had been rehabilitated and reunited with their families

    “We arrested 235 suspected drug dealers and users and secured 10 convictions in Akwa Ibom State during 2017 operation.

    “Of this number, 191 were males while 44 were females. Over 334.06 kg of hard drugs were seized from these suspects within the period,” Agumuo said.

    According to her, some of the seizures made were cocaine, heroin, cannabis sativa (Indian hemp), diazepam, tramadol and psychotropic substances.

    She expressed dismay over the high prevalence of cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) and combined substance users in Uyo, the state capital.

    Agumuo advised those who indulged in hard drugs to desist from the habit to avoid its adverse health implications as well as the long arm of the law.

    She attributed the achievements of the agency during the year to the commitment of the personnel, good working relationship and synergy between it and other security agencies in the state.

    She said: “the command worked hard to limit the supply and abuse of hard drugs and other psychoactive substances in the state.

    “The result is the reduction in the number of suspects and quantity of drugs seized.

    Agumuo urged the people to cooperate with the agency by volunteering adequate information on drug dealers for prompt action.

    She assured the people that the agency would not relent in its effort to comb all nooks and crannies to rid the state of drug dealers.

    The PRO identified poor funding, inadequate logistics and office accommodation as some of the challenges facing the command. (NAN)

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  • NDLEA faults Police’ drug war

    NDLEA faults Police’ drug war

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Tuesday faulted the daily raids of drug den by the Lagos Police Comman, noting that it was not targeted at the drug barons.

    NDLEA’s Commandant in Lagos, Sulyman Aliyu stated this during a visit to acting Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal, where both agencies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for better collaboration.

    According to Aliyu, raiding the small dealers and drug users was not the solution to drug misuse/abuse by teenagers and youths since the vice was on the rise.

    He also faulted the handling of exhibits recovered from the field by policemen, noting that they are most times compromised and invalidated in the prosecution of suspects.

    Aliyu said: “We have talked about the grey area. There are some mistakes here and there. If you don’t come closer to the NDLEA, you may not know the kind of operations we do. Let me say it clear that for the six years I have been in Lagos, there was no year we did not seize up to 10 tons of drugs. There is no year we did not prosecute 300 suspects of the about 700 arrested.

    “If you are arresting people and the trend of drug is not going down, then you look for another formula. It is only when you root out the major barons, who are the suppliers, that you have peace.

    “We have the intelligence. People with the expertise and the police have the manpower that is why we are partnering. The Police Commissioner has acknowledged the areas they made mistakes and promised to work with us. I hope that he keeps to the promise.

    “The purpose of this visit is to synergize with the police to fight the menace of drug abuse in the state. I like this type of synergy and we are looking forward to a joint operation with the police to clean Lagos of drugs.”

    Earlier, Edgal reiterated his commitment to rout drug peddlers in the state, noting that there was a nexus between drug use and crime.

    He said: “During the 11 town hall meetings I have held, the community leaders kept complaining about the issue of drug abuse and I have also observed the relationship between drugs use and crime.

    “When people have access to drugs, it emboldens them to get involved in crime. Cultism is also a problem. Where men and teenagers are involved in cult-related violence and narcotic substances are recovered from them, it is enough to draw the attention of the police.

    “So it’s in this regard that I decided to meet with you not only to identify major drug peddlers in the state but to gain from your agency’s experience.”