Commander Decries High Prevalence Of Drug Use In Niger Campuses

Niger State commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Shehu Gwadawaba, has condemned the high prevalence of drug use in campuses in the state.

He spoke at a public lecture with the theme, “Building Responsible Student Leadership: Combating Drug Abuse, Thuggery and Hate Speech and Campus Disunity Through Positive Value and Mentorship” organised by the Students Wing of the Coalition of Northern Groups, Niger State chapter in Minna.

Represented by the area commander, Metropolitan Operation, Minna Station, Hamisu Mohammed, the state commander said drug use by students, according to recent statistics, showed that global prevalence was 5.6% while that of Nigeria was 14.5% and 10.4% in the North Central region.

According to him, a recent study released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes corroborated the same level of prevalence.

He lamented that the high prevalence of drug use in Nigerian campuses had been of great concern to the NDLEA, which had prompted a series of raids in university campuses.

Gwadawaba hinted that 50 per cent of university students on and off campuses were into drug use, indicating high prevalence among them.

Earlier, a former vice chancellor of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Professor Mohammed Nasiru Maiturare, as a guest of honour, advised students of tertiary institutions to shun drug abuse and other social vices to become good future leaders in the country.

Maiturare said when ivory towers began to crack from within, values are weakened, mentorship is absent and leadership loses its moral compass and foundation.

He expressed sadness that campuses were facing serious challenges that threaten the universal ideals, as a result of drug abuse, violent conduct, intolerance in speech and divisions among the students.

The national coordinator of the Coalition of Northern Groups, Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, stated that the lecture was designed to inspire reflection, strengthen moral courage and rekindle responsibility, as campuses are not only centres of learning but also training grounds for future leaders.