The campaign against drug trafficking and substance abuse in Nigeria gained momentum this week as Guard Time Information, Human Rights Activists Nationwide, joined stakeholders at a high-level meeting convened by the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Drugs and Illicit Trafficking.
The meeting, chaired by Hon. Dr Oluwatimehin Adelegbe and attended by the Deputy Chairman and other committee members, brought together key agencies, including the NDLEA, NAFDAC, Customs, Immigration, EFCC, Police, SON, FAAN, FCCPC, alongside NGOs, CSOs, state governments, and international organisations.
Speaking at the event, Dr Adelegbe emphasised the commitment of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, is tackling drug trafficking and curbing the rising abuse of alcohol and tobacco across the country.
Prof. Jerry Sonny Ugokwe, PhD, Chairman of the Special Committee on Campaign Against Social Vices in Secondary and Tertiary Institutions, raised alarm over the growing involvement of schoolchildren in substance abuse. He pledged that with the combined efforts of committees and stakeholders, significant progress would be achieved.
Mr Bibi Oduku, Chairman of Guard Time Information, Human Rights Activists Nationwide, highlighted the devastating impact of drug trafficking and alcohol abuse on society, citing high death rates and crime. He called for stronger collaboration between civil society and law enforcement to apprehend traffickers and clamp down on pharmaceutical industries producing expired or harmful products.
Dr Femi Ajayi, National Project Officer of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Abuja, reaffirmed the UN’s readiness to support Nigeria with developmental programs aimed at addressing drug-related challenges.
Representing Edo State, Comrade Efe Andrew, Special Assistant to the Governor on Drug Abuse, outlined the state’s efforts to combat trafficking and related crimes, while stressing the need for federal support and legal backing to strengthen local initiatives.
Amb. Yusuf Salisu Nas, Head of Volunteers at A New Thing International Foundation and Lead Consultant to the Ad-Hoc Committee, assured participants that the committee is working under strict directives from Speaker Abbas Tajudeen to end drug trafficking and abuse. He reiterated the commitment of Dr Adelegbe and committee members to safeguard Nigeria from the scourge of illicit substances.
The gathering underscored a unified resolve among government agencies, civil society, and international partners to intensify the fight against drug trafficking, alcohol, and tobacco abuse, with a focus on protecting Nigeria’s youth and securing the nation’s future.
