Like the war against corruption, fight against use of illegal drugs is far too important to be ignored or compromised in any way. Simply put, the fight must be won. In fact, President Muhammadu Buhari said this week that the war against drug abuse will be frontally fought by his administration.
Receiving the report of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Elimination of Drug Abuse (PACEDA) in Abuja, the president associated welfare of the citizenry to the fight against the scourge of drug abuse. “Winning the war becomes one of the critical elements of the Next Level mandate of this administration,” he said. “As a government, we have the responsibility to ensure the security and well-being of our people.”
The president highlighted the obvious when he said that his administration’s findings have shown that it is more difficult to bring down crime rate to acceptable levels without clearing Nigeria of substances abuse.
Among the prominent drugs being trafficked are methamphetamine, amphetamines, cannabis, heroin, opium, cocaine, ecstasy and hallucinogens.
This illicit trade, worth billions of dollars, is very lucrative for the barons who use every conceivable means of transport including airplanes, ships, animals, catapults, sandbag bridges, tunnels and human beings (mules) to move their dangerous wares around the world. These drugs, despite not being cheap, are in high demand universally hence the constant supply by the unscrupulous businessmen who trafficked them.
According to a recent World Drug Report, which can be classified as conservative, it is estimated that a total of 246m people – slightly over five per cent of those aged 15 to 64 years worldwide – used an illicit drug in 2013. Some 27 million people are problem drug users, almost half of whom are people who inject drugs.
This year’s World Drug Report says men are three times more likely than women to use cannabis, cocaine or amphetamines, whereas women are more likely than men to engage in the non-medical use of opioids and tranquilisers.
In Nigeria, the rate of drug abuse is alarming! Youth, ages 13 – 35, are reportedly more involved in drug abuse. Sadly, housewives have also allegedly caught the bug with many of them indulging in the intake of psychoactive substances such as cannabis. Some drug addicts even sniff pit latrines or gutter or take excess codeine in order to feel intoxicated.
People use hard drugs for many reasons. Experts say adolescents have reported that they experimented with marijuana to enhance sexuality; to feel more confident; for pleasure and relaxation; to make themselves more comfortable in social situations; to understand themselves better; for acceptance by their peers; to achieve elevated social status; to defy authority; and to expand their minds.
Drug abuse is a self-destructive habit. Those involved easily get addicted while substance abuse affects all organs of the body from kidney to liver to heart. It can lead to memory loss and depression of the central nervous system. It can also predispose the abusers to domestic and road accidents, likewise stealing and job loss. It can also lead to mental disorder as well as negatively affects the abusers social interaction. It has equally truncated the careers of many promising and talented persons and entertainers. Thus, it’s a destroyer of individuals, society and its wealth and future.
The Buhari-led administration recognises early enough the dangers posed by substance abuse and established the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Elimination of Drug Abuse to fight the menace. Before that, there is the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Though the agency has recorded tremendous success in terms of arrests and prosecution of drug traffickers, particularly at the country’s airports, seaports and hinterland, the NDLEA is highly incapacitated by dearth of manpower and equipment and, therefore, it cannot deploy its officials to effectively man the porous borders through which illegal substances used to find their way into Nigeria.
It is on this need, therefore, that the Buhari-led administration should be appreciated for its concern to end drug menace through the establishment of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Elimination of Drug Abuse. Going to the next level in this regard, the federal government should establish and or equip existing rehabilitation centres to wean addicts off their addiction and affliction.
The government should also introduce public enlightenment campaign against drug trafficking and abuse so that those who indulge in them can begin to see the harmful effects of their habit.
Of course, it is important to note that drugs abuse and terrorism are closely associated as proceeds of illicit drug trafficking have been traced to terrorism financing while many people who engage in crimes and criminality, like the president observed, are known to have perpetrated heinous acts under the influence of hard drugs.
It is crucial, in the fight against drugs abuse, to fasten prosecution of people caught for illegal drug use and or trafficking. Ideally, special courts or tribunals should be established to handle drugs related offences.
Above all, if the battle is to be won, we must all understand that the war against drugs, like the war against corruption, is for everyone to participate in. consequently, the president is on point when he called for cooperation of well-meaning Nigerians and international partners in the fight against drug abuse.
2020 Budget and foreign travels
In a move that can be described as progressive and timely, soon after he presented the 2020 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the immediate suspension of international travels by his ministers and heads of government agencies so that they can facilitate quick passage of the budget.
Specifically, the president directed his appointees to personally lead their team for defense of their budget at the National Assembly.
This directive was contained in a statement issued by the Director of Information in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Mr Willie Bassey.
The statement said the suspension of such travels would enable top government functionaries to provide information and answer questions regarding their area of headship with a view to ensuring timely passage of the Appropriation Bill.
Thus far, the directive is paying off as many heads of departments have defended their budget with many others waiting to do same as scheduled and there are signs that, as it was envisaged, the 2020 budget would
instructively be passed in record time.
It is instructive because, previously, it used to take the executive longer than necessary to prepare and forward the budget estimates to the legislative arm whose members, especially since the advent of the Buhari-led administration, took more than half-a-year to finish work on, and pass the budget.
Hopefully, with this National Assembly and with next year, the situation will be different and, pleasingly, the country will be back to the January to December budget cycle which allows for proper planning and execution of government policies and programmes.
Above all, quick passage of the budget will likely eliminate suspicions and allegations of ‘padding’ of the budget figures and injection of alien items by members of the legislature, with the active connivance of members of the executive arm, all for reasons of corruption and or personal aggrandisement and to the detriment of the citizenry and country’s development.
The president’s directive, therefore, is about stemming corruption at the executive and legislative arms as well as ensuring efficiency in government affairs, proper planning and implementation of policies and programmes and stimulation of national development.
