Proliferation and abuse of controlled drugs like Tramadol and Pentazocine by criminal elements have been the major fuel of banditry, terrorism and other criminal acts in Nigeria, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said.
NDLEA zonal commander, Zone ‘F’, ACGN Sule Momodu, stated this in Kaduna Thursday while addressing pharmacists, personnel of the military and other paramilitary agencies during a dialogue to stop proliferation of controlled drug.
Momodu said lack of peace and security are mitigating factors to success of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other development plans of Nigeria, while drug use remains the immediate predisposing factor for insecurity and violent extremism in many states of Nigeria.
The zonal commander noted that the meeting was aimed at preventing unauthorised access to controlled drugs in the state and cautioned pharmacists against sale of the drugs to people without doctors’ prescriptions.
“There are 14.3 million drug users in Nigeria and the prevalence rate in Kaduna state alone is 10 per cent, ranking fourth in the North-western states of the country. The North-west alone has about 3 million drug users. The abuse of controlled drugs is on the rise and so we are here to have a discussion on how we can prevent unauthorised persons from having access to it.
“Controlled drugs are highly addictive. These are drugs that are meant to be used based on doctors’ prescription. But along the line, we find people having access to them other than for medicinal purpose. So, we are here to rub minds with members of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), the military and others paramilitary agencies, to see how we can prevent people who don’t need these drugs from having access to it,” Momodu added.
