The National Association of Nigerian Drug Monitoring (NANDRUM) is now working in collaboration with the Joint National Assembly Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, to combat drug abuse and peddling of illicit drugs in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
NANDRUM is also collaborating with other relevant agencies of government such as the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Nigeria Correctional Service and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), among others, towards stamping out the societal menace.
Speaking at the National Assembly complex, Thursday in Abuja, during the inauguration of the FCT chapter, Executive Secretary of NANDRUM, Dr Christabel Okoye, explained that the association was formed to join hands with the relevant agencies of the federal government to tackle the menace of drug abuse, illicit drug trafficking and sensitise the general public on the dangers of the scourge in the society.
She challenged parents and guardians to wake up from slumber and nip the menace of drug abuse amongst their children and wards.
She also stated that part of the mandate of NANDRUM is to bring medicine dealers together in one voice and one vision, targeted at addressing the ravaging menace in the society, noting that medicine dealers are also members of the association.
According to her, NANDRUM had been inaugurated in Anambra, Lagos, Abia, Delta, Kano and Enugu, expressing delight that, with the FCT Chapter being inaugurated, it was a positive signal that the war against drug abuse, illicit drug trafficking and sale of government prohibited drugs was being won by government, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
“This is a fight for all, so we should all join hands together in achieving our goal as members of this great association. Women should sit down and take absolute care of their children. The nation is bleeding because of the menacing effects of substance abuse in the country,” she said.
She commended the Chairman, Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, Hezekiah Dimka and his House of Representatives counterpart, Francis Ottah Agbo, for their unalloyed support for NANDRUM, noting that the politicians were unavoidably absent from the event due to the ongoing political campaigns, ahead of the February 25th presidential and National Assembly elections in the country.
Also speaking at the inauguration, the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Sani Tambuwal, commended the Executive Secretary of NANDRUM for constituting the FCT chapter of the association, saying the initiative came timely, as there was bound to be increase in substance intake by the youths and other vulnerable, who might be tools for mischief in the forthcoming polls.
