Oyo state commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun Tuesday stated that the state government will support the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in curbing the menace of illicit drug abuse and peddling.
Dr Olatunbosun said this while receiving a delegation from the NDLEA into his office during a courtesy visit.
The commissioner pointed out that there is need to reduce drug abuse and trafficking in and across Oyo state and Nigeria as a whole, saying the agency “has done so much to enlighten citizens on the dangers of drug abuse and indiscriminate use which had led to high rate of mental disorder and broken homes.
“We appreciate the efforts of NDLEA in curbing the menace of illicit drug abuse and peddling in our country, if you visit our motor parks within Ibadan and popular areas, you will see the effects of these drugs on our youths,” he said.
Dr Olatunbosun added, “they are either introduced to drug use by reasons of peer group pressure or societal influence, listen to the kinds of music our youths listen to, these are the major contributing factors and we are poised to join hands with NDLEA in eradicating the social scourge caused by drug abuse and illegal peddling of the banned commodities.”
In supporting NDLEA, the commissioner hinted that Oyo state would give necessary impetus to the anti-drug campaign embarked upon by the federal agency by using media platforms available in the state for advocacy against drug abuse and illegal drug peddling.
“From our end, we shall be partnering with you to enlighten the public on the dangers posed by drug abuse and other dangerous trends that our youths get involved in through the social media and the music industry,” .
The leader of the NDLEA team, Barrister Josephine Ruth Obi urged the Oyo state government and the Ministry of Information to support the agency in the area of publicity of its activities and programme to reduce the scourge and menace of drug trafficking and abuse.
Barrister Obi lauded Oyo state government’s efforts at reducing poverty and youths’ unrest by paying special interest to agriculture and its welfare programmes, especially in education, that has kept many school-going youths out of the street and out of the reach of illicit drug peddlers.
