*Drug abuse and Cultism: Community leader advocates education to address menace*

Authored by Femi Orioye

A call has gone to the governments at all levels to embrace dialogue and enlightenment programmes as a solution to address the menace of drug abuse and cultism among the youths in the country

Speaking at a one-day sensitisation programme in Lagos,with a theme ” Nigerian Youths, Rise Against Drug Abuse and Cultism ” the convener of the event under the aegis of Network Against Drug Abuse and Cultism, a community leader and a media practitioner, Mr Olufemi Orioye described drug abuse and cultism as a cankerworm that has eaten deep into the Nigerian system that needs to be nib in the bud

Orioye, who is the convener of the programme, explained the inherent danger in drug abuse and cultism as it may hamper the future of the youths from achieving their ambitions in life

Describing drug abuse and cultism as the enemies of the society, the community leader maintained that the vices have ruined the lives of many youths while a large number of them ended up in jail

He noted that the high drug intake among the youths has increased the level of crimes in the society, adding that many youths are into drugs as a result of peer group influence.

According to him, the federal government needs to empower the National Orientation Agency, NOA, in order to increase the level of awareness as drug abuse serves as a counterproductive to nation-building.

While acknowledging the youths as the future of a nation, Orioye affirmed that the government alone could not handle the situation as parents have an important role to play in modelling the future of their children through proper upbringing

The community leader commended the Director General of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa, for being proactive in ensuring that the importation and marketing of illicit drugs is eradicated in the country.

According to him, “the anti-drug agency in the last five years, has made the country uninhabitable for drug smugglers by confiscating, destroying and prosecuting peddlers. I want to admonish the NDLEA to improve on its operations by visiting some of the black spots in the country to discourage the illegal trade on hard substances.

“I can assure you that my organization will continue to partner with the government in tackling the menace of drug abuse, cultism, kidnapping, and other vices in the country. The campaign against illicit drugs is a continuous one, and we will not stop until the country is rid of hard drugs.

“The Network Against Drug Abuse and Cultism was set up to partner the governments at levels toward the eradication of drug abuse in the country. The organisation has visited many public and private schools across the country to educate children about the effects of drug abuse.

Network Against Drug Abuse was set up 10 years with the objectives of campaigning against drug abuse and crimes among the youths in the country

The event was attended by stakeholders in the education sector, government officials, parents teachers, and youths from across the state.