The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)’s Head of the Federal Capital Territory Command, Mr. Kabiru Tsakuwa, has pledged to support the creation of a War Against Drug Abuse Club at Premiere Academy in Lugbe, Abuja, in recognition of the school’s potential to spread the Agency’s vigorous anti-drug campaign among young people in the FCT.
The Command’s Head made this commitment during a drug abuse awareness campaign held on the school’s grounds, with the theme “Avoid Drugs Instead of Experiment.” The campaign was organised in collaboration with the West African Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA).
By enlisting the younger generation in the fight against drug misuse, Mr Tsakuwa claimed that the sensitisation campaign was a component of the agency’s responsibility to lower the prevalence of drug abuse in society. He characterised this determination as a key tactic in the fight to rid Nigeria of drugs. He urged young people across the nation to fight peer pressure to use illegal drugs and other substances that could ruin their future.
Continuing, Command Head also pledged that the creation of a drug-free club at school would provide excellent chances for students to engage with one another and talk about the negative effects of drug abuse and the importance of abstaining from drug use.
While highlighting the various chemicals and drugs, Mr Augustine Nduka, the Chief Superintendent of Narcotics for the NDLEA, pointed out that some may not be illegal but have long-lasting detrimental effects on victims. He illustrated the risks of illegal substances and alcohol, pointed out that drug addiction has made chronic illnesses worse among Nigerians, and listed some ways to assist those affected by this oddity.
He asserts that illegal drug addiction: “Is not only a disease of the brain but also a relapsing disease whose victims could only be helped through rehabilitation; otherwise, they would only end up on the streets.”
Given that drug misuse continues to be a leading cause of death among young, Mr Martins Igwe, the First Regional Vice President of WAANSA, urged the students in his submission to continue working hard and to resist peer pressure to take drugs. He urged parents to keep up the anti-drug awareness campaigns at home, but she also pointed out that substance abuse has far-reaching risks because it can cause trauma and death for the entire family as well as gradually deteriorate the human system and mental health.
The NDLEA and WAANSA delegates were praised by the school’s principal, Mr Chris Akinsowon, for the educational campaign and the pledge to start a WADA Club there. He noted that the school had consistently developed several strategic efforts to help pupils avoid drug misuse and that one such strategic partnership initiative was the NDLEA/WAANSA sensitisation campaign.
According to him, the anti-drug campaign in schools, which aims to raise awareness of the risks of drug misuse among foundation-level pupils, is a crucial national initiative that merits everyone’s support. He claimed that the initiative will significantly aid young people in Nigeria in avoiding the use of illegal drugs and in selecting the appropriate mates and companions.
BrandSpur national news desk reports that the presentation of a special commendation award to the FCT NDLEA Commander and the WAANSA First Regional Vice President for their efforts to purge Abuja and its surroundings of undesirable attitudes and activities was the event’s high point. Mr. Chris Akinsowon, the principal, and Mr. Akin Oladapo, the supervising Director, gave out the awards.
