House of Representatives has called on the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to eradicate drug bunks in the country.
The House decision was sequel to the approval of a motion sponsored by Hon Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo from Akwa Ibom at plenary, yesterday.
In his lead debate, Ukpong-Udo said Section 3(f) of the NDLEA Act provides for “adoption of measures which shall include coordinated preventive and repressive action, introduction and maintenance of investigative and control techniques.”
He expressed worry that recent statistics from the NDLEA showed 40 per cent of Nigerian youth aged 18–35 are involved in drug abuse while a report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), showed that over 14.3 million aged 15–64 engaged in the same.
The lawmaker raised the alarm that drug bunks are being opened in strategic locations in various cities across the country and fast becoming hostels where young Nigerians are found spending their entire day, saying those bunks are well-known to security agencies and citizens.
“Worried that drug abuse in Nigeria is a growing concern, affecting personal growth, societal values, and health and security risks, with hotels and transport companies allegedly aiding illegal activities.
“Concerned that the future of Nigerian youths is destroyed as they invest all their finances from legitimate or illegal means in enriching drug barons, affecting the country’s development and progress, a situation which jeopardizes the future of youths and undermines the development and progress of the country,” he argued.
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