Shun Drug Abuse, Kwara Gov Urges Youths

Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Thursday, urged young people to stay away from drug abuse.

AbdulRazaq spoke in Ilorin, the state capital at the 2022 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking, organised by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kwara State Command, in conjunction with the Kwara State Drug Control Committee and Office of the State First Lady, Ambassador Olufolake AbdulRazaq.

The theme of the event was “Addressing Drug Challenges in Health and Humanitarian Crises”.

“I thank the NDLEA, the government bodies and Office of the First Lady for putting this together. It clearly shows that the agency is alive to its responsibilities. The main message here today is: say no to drug abuse. There is nothing good that comes out of illicit drugs. It destroys you as a person; it destroys your family and your communities, and it undermines the government,” the governor said.

AbdulRazaq commended the leadership of the NDLEA both at the federal and state levels for their proactive steps and campaigns against the abuse of drugs, pledging continuous support for the agency and other relevant bodies to check the crime and mitigate its effects in the society.

The governor thanked the traditional rulers for their immense contributions to make their communities crime-free, and the various companies that supported the event.

Acting chief medical director, Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Budo-Egba, Prof Baba Issa, said it takes concerted efforts of various stakeholders to rid the society of drug abuse.

Represented by Dr. Garba Suleiman, Issa said governments must intensify the ongoing anti-drug campaigns and take extra measures against the proliferation of shops that sell illicit substances.