PMAN Partners NDLEA to Curb Drug Scourge
In tackling the escalating issue of drug abuse in Nigeria, the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) is taking proactive measures through its collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), to educate and provide support to performing musicians and the youths they influence.
The collaboration was made public recently at the PMAN Music House in Lekki Lagos, with the NDLEA Chairman, Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Retd) and his team in attendance.
PMAN boss, Pretty Okafor described the initiative as a way of giving back to the music industry, and the community on a larger scale by disabusing the myths associated with drugs boosting the creative output of musical artistes, which in turn influences their followers.
“Our profession attracts drugs,” Pretty noted. “I have never tasted alcohol or cigarettes, but we (Junior and Pretty) pioneered the brand of music that took the world by storm. Our brand of lifestyle comes with being flashy, the luxury life, but there is never a time that a life of luxury can be sustained if you have a drug addiction.”
Marwa provided an overview of the current interventions of the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) programme launched in 2021. He noted ways in which the programme continues to provide support through counselling, physiotherapy, psychotherapy, and accessibility to care at its various rehabilitation centres.
As of 2018, data obtained from the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime in Nigeria revealed that 14.4% (14.3 million) of people aged between 15 and 64 years abuse drugs. According to Marwa, the link between drug use and popular music are closely linked, noting that the collaboration was a timely intervention.
“This drug scourge has continually impacted negatively on our youth, families, and communities. It has also played a major role in promoting violence and criminality in our society, and the NDLEA is tasked with the mandate of eliminating drug use and trafficking,” Marwa highlighted.