Governor of Edo State Monday Okpebholo has inaugurated the State and Local Government Drug Control Committee to intensify the fight against drug abuse in the state.
Okpebholo described the initiative as “a vital step in our unwavering commitment to stopping the menace of drug trafficking and substance use among youths.”
Represented by his deputy, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, the governor bemoaned the rising tide of drug dependency and its impact on society.
According to a statement by the chief press secretary to the deputy governor, Mr Friday Aghedo, Okpebholo pointed out that the committee’s creation aligns with the national drug master plan and represents a bold stride toward protecting Edo’s future generations.
Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), was represented by ACGN, Fidelis Cocodia, Zonal Commander, Zone 13, who emphasised grassroots interventions, awareness campaigns, and support systems as the backbone of the fight against drug abuse.
The Edo State commander of the NDLEA, Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed that while national drug use prevalence stands at 14.4 per cent, Edo State surpasses the average at 15 percent.
He noted that the state is one of the hardest-hit states in the country, warning that the trend has fueled crime and heightened youth vulnerability.
The state’s commissioner for Health, Dr Cyril Oshiomhole pledged to make Edo a model in drug control through rehabilitation, youth enlightenment, and second-chance opportunities for recovering addicts.
The coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Edo State, Mrs Edesili Okpebholo Anani, described drug abuse as a pandemic, noting that “you hardly see a crime without drugs being involved.”
She added that women’s empathy and influence must be harnessed in the campaign against drug abuse.
