UN, NASS, NDLEA Seek Homegrown Solution To Drugs Abuse

United Nations (UN), the National Assembly and the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have solicited for homegrown measures to curb drug abuse.

In their submissions at a one-day National Summit organised by the National Assembly joint committee on Drugs and Narcotics in collaboration with National Association of Nigeria Drug Monitoring, the various stakeholders said the habitual stage of the crime should be curbed at the home front.

According to representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Mr William Wu, if there is zero tolerance for drug consumption and abuse by children in all homes, traffickers will not emerge in the society.

He said the summit is a proactive step by the stakeholders in curbing the crime in Nigeria.

“This summit of fighters against Drug abuse and trafficking is very apt and proactive.

“The homes should be used as start points of waging the war against the menace through responsible parenting for children by parents.

“The Act upon which the NDLEA is prosecuting the war against drug abuse and trafficking, should be reviewed by making provision for more stringent measures and punishment for the crime.

“The UNODC will continue to partner with relevant stakeholders in Nigeria to curb the menace technically and technologically.”

In his own submission, the NDLEA secretary, Shadrack Haruna, said the fight should not be left for the agency or government alone.

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“Concerted efforts should be made right from the homefronts to fight the war. NDLEA is trying its best to rid the Nigerian society of drug addicts and traffickers who going by realities on ground, constitute the largest percentage of criminals in the society “, he said.

The comptroller-general of Nigeria Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa represented by Yakubu Sylvanus , said 70 to 77% of inmates are involved in drug related cases , saying “ when all are involved in the fight against the menace , there will be decongestion “.

The director-general of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) , Dr Fatima Waziri said technology and parents should be used to fight the war against drug abuse and trafficking in Nigeria.