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By Oscar Okhifo, Abuja
The Nigeria Governors Spouses’ Forum (NGSF), a group of women made up of wives of serving State Governors called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on drug abuse and illicit trafficking in the country.
The Forum said has that the success of the current efforts by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) against the menace of substance abuse and illegal drugs trafficking will accelerate the actualization of the renewed hope agenda President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The Governors’ wives made the declaration as part of their resolutions in a communique read by Mrs. Bamidele Dapo Abiodun the first Lady of Ogun state on behalf of the Chairperson of the Forum and first lady of Kwara state, Prof (Mrs.) Olufolake Abdulrasaq, at the end of a training workshop organized by the NDLEA in collaboration with the NGSF in Abuja on Tuesday.
The Forum expressed concern “that Nigeria presently faces an alarming rate of drug use situation, which has ferociously cut through every sphere and strata of communities which is consequently endangering the wellbeing and security of individuals, families and communities within the country.”
The forum emphasized that states must play very critical roles as stakeholders in addressing the national drug challenges.
This is attainable by implementing well planned localised strategies, fostering cross sector collaboration and teaming up with internal frameworks, towards responding to community needs and contributing to coordinated national responses.
The Forum in a statement issued by Femi Babafemi, the Agency’s spokesman, applauded and wholly endorsed the outstanding efforts of NDLEA under the leadership of Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa against drug abuse and trafficking with phenomenal national and global success records in the areas of arrests and seizures, prosecutions and convictions, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation of victims among others.
In its resolutions, the Forum acknowledged the urgency of now as regards the need for the First Ladies to use their good offices to collaborate with State Governors in facilitating the establishment of State Drug Control Committees (SDCCs) in the thirty-six states of the country.
According to the Forum, the laudable partnership between NDLEA and the NGSF has yielded significant verifiable dividends and notable milestones over time, adding that urgent concerted and pragmatic efforts are required considering the complex public health issues and security challenges that is currently plaguing the country. The security challenges, experts believe is being fuelled largely by the use of drugs.
The forum also resolved to ensure that “Local Government Drug Abuse Committees are established in line with the ‘bottom to top’ approach.
According to them “the Drug Abuse Prevention Treatment and Care (DPTC) programmes in States continue to serve as the Forum’s project, and to be chaired by the first ladies of the States. This, thus serves as additional tools for addressing community-based drug prevention, use and treatment.”