The Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum (NGSF) has issued a pressing call to both the Federal and State Governments, urging them to declare a state of emergency on substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking across Nigeria.
This call to action aims to mobilize resources effectively to address this pervasive societal issue.
Chairperson of the Forum and wife of the Kwara State Governor, Ambassador Olufolake Abdulrasaq, conveyed this urgent plea during a gathering held in Abuja on Tuesday, as stated in a communique signed by her.
This communique emerged after a two-day training session on Drug Prevention, Treatment, and Care (DPTC), organized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) specifically for the wives of state governors.
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, the governor’s wives emphasized the imperative to strengthen and revitalize the State Drug Control Committees (SDCC) to ensure optimal functionality, particularly in states where such committees are already in place.
The forum noted that it was also important to encourage States that do not have to constitute one, to increase rehabilitation programmes that focused on holistic recovery, addressing both physical and mental health of drug addiction as well as harm reduction.
“Other resolutions in the communique include the need to foster good parenting through parents teachers associations, community outreach programmes and to support the NDLEA Drug Integrity Testing Policy.
“This is for early detection of drug users and timely intervention to prevent the progression to addiction/dependency, “the forum stated.
The forum also agreed to work as a body and facilitator towards strengthening collaboration and cooperation between State governments, NDLEA and other security agencies in the fight against drug use and trafficking.
“It also agreed to support the building of at least three standard drug rehabilitation centres, one in each senatorial zone of the State to cater for drug users within the states and reduce the challenges of costs, access and stigma to drug treatment, it stated.
The governors’ wives also agreed to use their good offices to liaise with the State Governors to facilitate the establishment, where no one exists, and strengthening, where it exists, of States Drug Control Committees (SDCC) and appoint first ladies of States as chairs of the committees.
This, they said, will be with NDLEA State Commander as the Secretary, for effective action against drug use prevalence, treatment and care.
They agreed to adopt the DPTC programmes in the States as a Forum project and to be chaired by the first ladies of the States, to help curb the menace of drug use.
They also agreed to foster greater access to treatment for women who use drugs by reducing to the barest minimum stigmatisation and cultural pushback.
“Adopts also projects and policies that foster cooperation with private sector and civil society organisations in the development of standardised treatment centres across the States of the Federation.
“Fosters active collaboration with, and providing support to, NDLEA Commands in States to embed DPTC in all their anti-drug intervention programmes.
“Also, the need to create skill acquisition centres and employment opportunities for young people to reduce being lured into drug use and trafficking, “it stated.
The governors’ wives said their resolutions are based on their understanding of “the nexus between drug use and the heightened level of criminality.
The forum also emphasised the increasing number of school dropouts, social and health issues, and family problems, including violent extremism, kidnapping, banditry and terrorism, and its resultant impact on food security.
“This includes the safety of lives and properties, foreign direct investment, the economy and national security among others, “the forum stated.
They commended the efforts of NDLEA and the leadership of retired Brig.- Gen. Buba Marwa, in recent years, against drug use and trafficking with resounding successes in the areas of arrests and seizures, prosecutions and convictions.
This, the forum said included awareness raising, counselling and rehabilitation among others.
The governors’ wives assured the Agency of their preparedness to take the knowledge gained during the training to their states for further action.
In his closing remarks, Marwa commended the First Ladies for taking time out of their busy schedules to stay two days attending the DPTC training.
He urged them not to allow lessons learnt to end at the venue but to take them to their various states for implementation.
NAN
