Drug abuse: Youth ministry partners NDLEA on awareness

TFederal Ministry of Youth Development has expressed its preparedness to partner with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA) on raising awareness and providing rehabilitation and skills acquisition for Nigerian youths afflicted by substance abuse. The assurance was given by Minister of Youth Development, Jamila Bio Ibrahim, when she paid a visit to the Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa ( rtd), at the agency’s national headquarters in Abuja, to discuss areas of collaboration between her ministry and the anti- narcotic body. The minister said she came on the visit to seek collaboration with NDLEA on advocacy, strengthening grassroots awareness, especially among youths, on dangers of substance abuse, getting counselling and rehabilitation for young Nigerians struggling with drug abuse or addiction, and providing skills acquisition for youths undergoing rehabilitation in NDLEA facilities.

She expressed optimism that the National Youth Development Bank that will soon be launched by the Federal Government to empower Nigerian youths could also serve as a channel for rehabilitated young Nigerians to get funding for beneficial endeavours, based on skills acquired during rehabilitation, so that they won’t go back to the same environment and situations that led them into substance abuse.

In his remarks, Marwa painted a grim picture of the drug situation in Nigeria, especially as it affects the youth population, stressing the urgent need for all stakeholders, in particular Ministries, Departments and Agencies ( MDAS), to strengthen partnership with a view to curbing the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking, given the strong nexus between drug abuse and security challenges facing the country.

The NDLEA boss noted the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty and make life meaningful for the generality of citizens.

He said the benefits would sooner than later create more jobs for the good of youths and ultimately discourage most of them from going into substance abuse.