President Muhammadu Buhari,
Monday appointed his wife, Dr. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari as member of Presidential
Advisory Committee on the Elimination of Drug Abuse.
The Committee has the former
Military Administration of Lagos, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, retd, as its chairman.
President Buhari also inaugurated
the Ministerial Steering Committee which is headed by the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha.
Inaugurating the two committees at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the President called for collective action to help those enslaved by drugs build a new life.
Inaugurating the two committees at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the President called for collective action to help those enslaved by drugs build a new life.
He noted that the challenges
associated with drug abuse had grown to become a major public health problem in
the country, lamenting that Nigeria, hitherto considered as a transit nation
for illicit drugs before 2013 had now been internationally recognized as a user
nation.
President Buhari recalled the
disheartening statistics of several reports including the National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency which revealed that about three million codeine syrups
bottles were consumed daily in Kano and twice that amount in the North-West
region of Nigeria alone.
According to him, “This is a
situation of emergency and we must face and address it as such.”
He said that use and abuse of
drugs by adolescents have become one of the most disturbing health related
phenomena in Nigeria and other parts of the world.
He said that in many schools and
growing adolescents experience mental health issues, either temporarily or for
a long period of time, while some become insane, cannot remain in schools and
eventually drop out.
“Drug and alcohol abuse are also
major occupational hazards among Nigerian workers, professionals, notably
drivers, which contribute to making Nigerian roads particularly dangerous. The
drugs that are commonly abused include but not limited to alcohol, cigarettes,
caffeine, Tramadol, codeine, etc.
“Today marks the beginning of
another milestone in correcting the root cause of some of the ills of today’s
society in order to safeguard our common existence and guarantee a brighter
future for our current generation and those yet on born.
“The role is specifically
targeted at decimating the disastrous havoc that drug abuse could cause on the
very fabric of our society.’’
President Buhari commended his
wife for demonstrating passion and commitment to the cause by galvanizing the
participation of First Ladies from the states through the Governors’ Wives
Forum in conducting an assessment of the challenge in their respective domains,
with the view to proffering measures to combat the menace.
He said, “The appointment of the
wives of the President and the Vice-President as well as the Chairpersons of
the North and South Governors’ Wives Forum as members of this committee is in
recognition of their concerted efforts to the course of eradicating the menace
of drug abuse from our society.
“Additionally, the participation of the First Ladies is meant to spur further involvement of women and mothers in particular, in view of the significant role they play in parenting and care.
“Additionally, the participation of the First Ladies is meant to spur further involvement of women and mothers in particular, in view of the significant role they play in parenting and care.
“It is therefore expected that
Governors’ Wives across the federation will take the lead in replicating this
intervention structure at the states and local government levels,’’ he added.
He stated that the presidential
structure at the federal level would facilitate implementation of government’s
programmes and projects for effective delivery of policies, while a third level
structure was proposed for the States, given the national spread of the malaise
and the need for quick action at the root of the scourge.
Buhari revealed that the State
Implementation Committee (SIC) would be established in all states of the
federation to complement federal government’s efforts nationwide.
Members of the Presidential
Advisory Committee include Wives of the President and the Vice-President, representatives
of Governors’ Wives Forum (North and South), Nigeria Custom Service, NAFDAC,
NDLEA, Police and others.
The ministerial steering is
charged with the responsibilities of integrating drug abuse issue into extant
government policies and new initiatives and provide strategic direction and
guidance on drug issues.
It is also to serve as a linkage
between the federal government and other entities; synchronize and translate
government policies into implementation plan and promote necessary
executive/legislative actions.
In his remarks, Secretary to the
Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha described drug abuse epidemic as “a
national emergency that calls for concerted and collaborative actions by all
tiers of government, Non-Governmental Organisations, Development Partners,
Civil Society Organisations and religious and traditional leaders.’
He warned that the menace if not
tackled expeditiously and firmly, would in the long term, be more dangerous
than any other challenges facing the nation, including the insurgency.
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