FCTA partners PACEDA to tackle drug abuse in Abuja

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory toadministration (FCTA), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has pledged its support for the activities of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Elimination of Drug Abuse (PACEDA).

The Minister who stated this when he received the Chairman of the committee Brigadier General Muhammed Buba Marwa (rtd) and members of PACEDA who paid him a courtesy visit in his office, stressed the need for the strengthening of relevant anti -drug abuse institutions especially in the area of funding, well equipped facilities and the provision of enabling laws to stop drug abuse.

He said: “Institutions need to be properly funded to get the right manpower and equipment. Secondly is to strengthen enforcement and by extension, prosecution. The third is rehabilitation, which is the most difficult because it has to be done on a long-time basis in quality facilities”, 

He however stated that, with the strong political will as exhibited by President Muhammadu Buhari, it is possible to arrest the situation. 

He also assured his guests of the continued support of the FCTA for activities of the Committee and expressed the willingness of the FCTA to provide land for the construction of a model rehabilitation centre in the FCT. 

He said the building of such a model facility would lay a solid foundation for a sustainable fight against drug abuse.

Speaking earlier, Chairman of the Committee, Brigadier General Muhammed Buba Marwa (rtd), while commending the Minister’s role in the success recorded by the committee in the FCT so far, stressed the need for the establishment of drug control committees from the state level to the community levels.

Marwa expressed satisfaction that the FCT already has a very active committee on drug abuse related issues and also strengthened other relevant institutions. He thereafter called on other states to emulate the FCT.