President Bola Tinubu has affirmed his support for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in its efforts to combat substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
He made this commitment during the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, also known as World Drug Day, held on Wednesday, June 26, at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
Femi Babafemi, the director of media and advocacy at NDLEA headquarters in Abuja, shared this information in a statement to reporters. The theme for the day was “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention.”
Representing President Tinubu, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, urged Nigerians to support the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, which was launched by NDLEA three years ago.
He said; “I commend and urge everyone to redouble their efforts to combat drug abuse and trafficking in the country. On this score, I wish to reassure you of this administration’s support. The Renewed Hope Agenda places the youth at the center of its focus.
“Therefore, we ensure that our young people are protected from anything that could derail their future or destroy their potential. In the face of such a formidable challenge, prevention is the most potent weapon that we can deploy. Prevention not only saves lives; it also saves resources that would otherwise be spent on treatment and rehabilitation.
“It empowers individuals to make informed choices, promotes healthy lifestyles, and creates resilient communities capable of withstanding the pressures of drug abuse.
“Investing in prevention is not merely a moral imperative but also a prudent way of safeguarding our future. By allocating resources towards evidence-based prevention programs, we can break the vicious cycle of drug abuse and protect our youth from falling prey to this menace.
“The task before us as a nation requires prioritizing evidence-based prevention strategies, allocating adequate resources, and fostering partnerships for greater impact.
“This government will support the NDLEA in building on the successes recorded in the past few years. We shall work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that we have positive statistics from the next national drug use survey to be conducted in the country.
“This is an assignment for all patriotic citizens of this country, including religious leaders, traditional leaders, educational institutions, opinion leaders, and civil society organizations. NDLEA has created a formidable platform for cooperation through its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy initiative.”
