The Chairman House of Representative Committee on Narcotic Drugs and Financial Crimes, Honourable Eucharia Azodo and Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) has led stakeholders in a sensitization walk against drug abuse at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.
The walk is part of activities to commemorate the 2017 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking with the theme, Listen First: Listening to Children and Youths is the First Step to Help Them Grow Healthy and Safe.
Stakeholders from Civil Society Organizations, Armed Forces (Air force, Navy and Army), paramilitary Agencies, Ministries and Departments all gathered at the Old Parade Ground at Area 10 Garki, Abuja where the walk was flagged off at 8am on Saturday June 24, 2017.
Honourable Eucharia while addressing the participants before the commencement of the walk said that the National Assembly has moved several motions on the reduction of illicit drugs. In her words, “several motions have been moved on the control of drug trafficking and abuse. The emphasis of this walk is to enlighten parents on the need to listen to their children, understand their needs and prevent them from getting involved in drug use and trafficking. The emphasis should be on education so as to address the problem from the point of knowledge. When children are conversant with the consequences of drug abuse, it becomes easy for them to make informed decisions”.
NDLEA Chairman, Abdallah who participated in the walk told participants that the rationale behind the involvement of stakeholders is to facilitate collaboration in line with the principle of collective responsibility. “The essence of involving everybody in this walk is to demonstrate our unique strength in confronting drug trafficking and abuse as a team. We remain committed to this all important campaign and the Agency will continue to partner with relevant bodies in reducing the threat of drug production, trafficking and abuse” he assured.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, who was represented by Director Special Duties, Mr. Adesola Olusade in his remarks urged members of the public to avoid drug abuse. He called on stakeholders to replicate the sensitization walk at various levels so as to take the message to the grass root.
Some participants at the walk include Mrs. Ebele Ulasi, Assistant Director Public Enlightenment of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP), Corps Commander, Oladunni Olaniyan of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), students from Peoples Comprehensive Academy, Abuja among others.
