SOKOTO – A retired Permanent Secretary in Sokoto State, Alhaji Bello Nagwari, has advocated an improved funding for the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA).
He said that increased funding would assist in checking the menace of drugs abuse and addiction in Nigeria.
Nagwari was speaking in Sokoto on Sunday at a one-day anti-drugs sensitisation campaign tagged, ” Drugs to Fruits.”
The event was organised by a Sokoto-based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Unity, Peace and Mobilisation.
Nagwari, who is also the State Chairman of the Jama’atul Nasril Islam ( JNI), further said that the agency required adequate funds, facilities, vehicles and other logistics to be effective in its operations.
“The Federal Government is doing its best in this direction, but more requires to be done to boost its activities.
“The menace of drugs is like a time bomb in Nigeria, the government is doing its best, but the time to act is now,” he added.
Also Speaking, the State Chairman of the association, Alhaji Nura Attajiri, said the campaign was part of efforts to complement government’s efforts in dealing with the menace of drugs’ consumption and trafficking.
According to Attajiri, the event is to encourage the youths to shun drugs and migrate to the consumption of fruits.
“As leaders of tomorrow, the youths will then be useful to themselves, their families and the society,” he added.
A Nutritionist at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Mrs Salamatu Ibrahim, extolled the virtues of fruits in boosting the health and immunity of the human beings.
“There are a lot of health and economic benefits of fruits compared to the debilitating menace of drugs,” she added.
The State Commander of NDLEA, Alhaji Misbahu Idris, represented by the Spokesman of the agency, Mr Abubakar Gusau, commended the association for the initiative.
“This is part of the support we need from groups, associations and other well-meaning Nigerians to ensure the success of the ongoing drugs’ war in the country,” he added.
A cross section of the participants, including a 14-year old Salmanu Ibrahim, commended the association for organising the event.
“The youths, however, need more finances to go back to schools, as well as more job opportunities to tame the menace of poverty and unemployment,” they added.(NAN)