Determined to combat drug abuse amongst youth, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu, the lawmaker representing Eti-Osa Constituency 2 in Lagos has organised a programme aimed at educating young people on the harmful effects of drug abuse.
Recognizing the importance of addressing the issue for the overall well-being of both individuals and society, Yishawu invited officials from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to speak directly to the youth about the dangers of drug use.
Yishawu emphasised the need for the youth to reject drugs, stating, “We all know what drugs do to people and the prevalence of drugs from statistics worldwide.
“We have officials from NDLEA to provide the right advocacy and explain the implications of drug use. The youth are the strength of the nation, and we must ensure they understand the dangers of drug abuse”, he said.
During the event, Yishawu also took the opportunity to appeal to the youth not to participate in the proposed protest scheduled for August 1.
He acknowledged the challenges faced by the country but assured the youth that the nation’s president and the state Governor are working diligently to address these issues.
He urged the youth to engage in dialogues with the government rather than resorting to protests.
In response to Yishawu’s appeal, Olasupo Jubril, the Majority Leader of the Lagos State Youth Parliament, expressed his resolve not to join the protest and encouraged other youth to maintain decorum and engage in peaceful dialogues with the government.
Other youths echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the negative experiences and damage caused by the previous protest as reasons to avoid participating in the planned demonstration.
An official from the NDLEA representing the Ajah area command, Joshua Izeybigie highlighted the lethal effects of drug abuse, stating that, “Drugs kill and they are really affecting the youth who use them. This gathering is important as it helps inform the youth.
“Drug abuse affects everything about a person, including their education, family life, and overall well-being. Women who use drugs cannot take care of their homes properly. Drug abuse is damaging to both the youth and society.”
A youth who attended the event, Temitope Olaniyi expressed the importance of abstaining from drug use, stating, “It is not advisable for anyone to take drugs, and this gathering organized by our lawmaker is timely. I encourage all our youth to desist from drug use.”
