•NDLEA, CPP, others join in sensitization programme to curb menace
By Gilbert Ekezie
•Some of the participants at the event
The Ajeromi Ifelodun Crime Prevention Partners (CPP), in collaboration with National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and in partnership with the United Kingdom Government, TAG International and CLEEN Foundation, recently held a one-day sensitization seminar for community stakeholders and school owners on “The effects of drugs and substance abuse”. The event took place at the local government secretariat in Ajegunle, Lagos State.
•Ojobaro addressing participants at the event
Community stakeholders, school proprietors, teachers, students, youths, law enforcement agents, including the police, NDLEA and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSDC), were in attendance. Hand bills, with the inscriptions: ‘Say no to drug and substance abuse’, ‘You have a brighter future’, ‘Real friends don’t do drugs’ and ‘Winners don’t do drugs’, among others, were distributed to the participants.
Speaking on the topic of the day: “The effects of drug and substance abuse,” Deputy Commander, Narcotics, NDLEA, Mrs. Clara Chukwuma, expressed happiness for the opportunity given to her to talk to those who are into or yet to go into drugs. She said the main focus of her speech was the dangers of harmful drugs, if taken.
According to her, drugs are being abused when they are taken excessively and without prescription.
She said: “The danger is that if taken, the body system will change, it hurts the person physically, it leads to sicknesses like brain damage, liver problem, kidney damage, low performance at work and hurts the mental health of the abusers.”
Chukwuma also explained that drug and substance abuse results to hallucinations, affects finances and hurts one’s freedom. “It can also influence people to commit crime, hurts relationship with ones family, hurts friendship, hurts people one does not know and the community, by not doing well to help the community to grow.”
She said drug abuse is a no-go- area and that one can achieve what he or she wants, without talking drugs.
“To avoid it, you can keep yourself busy by dancing to music, cooking, read and do other things. Also, avoid areas drugs are taken, so that you will not be tempted to take it.”
Chukwuma commended CPP for the initiative and promised that NDLEA will not relent in giving them the necessary support to fight the abuse of drugs due to its harmful effects.
Human Resources Manager of Ajeromi Ifelodun local government area, Prof. Rafiu Ayinla, on behalf of the council chairman, Fatai Ayoola, advised the young people to avoid drugs so that their future will be brighter.
He said the youths should be encouraged to succeed in life by sensitizing them on the need and what it takes to do so.
“We are looking for a way to engage you to be productive and we will not rest until Ajegunle is better,” he stated.
Commander of NSDC in Ajeromi Ifelodun local government area, Mrs Nkeiruka Obi, described hard drugs as destroyer and should not be taken, no matter the circumstances.
“Drug abuse is dangerous to health and it destroys one’s future. If one says no to drugs, the future will be better. So, I am advising everyone, especially the young people, to desist from taking it,” she said.
The Administrative Officer, of Ajegunle Police Division, Peter Akintunde assistant superintendent of police, observed that parents have more job to do in the lives of their children on the area of drugs and substances abuse.
Akintunde, who represented the divisional police officer, noted that it is not the work of the security officers or law enforcement agents to teach the young people about the dangers of drug abuse but rather the parents should.
He said drug abuse can lead to mental problem or criminal acts like robbery, rape, fighting and killing, and advised young people to desist from any act that would lead them into crime.
Samson, a former drug addict and one of the beneficiaries of CPP training and empowerment programmes, explained the reason people should not abuse drugs.
He explained that with what he went through drug addiction, he would be not advise anyone to abuse drugs.
“I was almost off the line. At a point, there was no stop to it until the members of CPP located me while roaming the streets as a lunatic. But, today, I have been revived and I go out there to preach against it,” he said.
Another former drug addict, AbdulLatteef, was picked from the streets as an urchin but today, he is free from drugs. He narrated his ordeal, saying that the dangers of drugs cannot be easily noticed until when it starts manifesting.
According to him, drug abuse almost made him mad and useless in life. “If not for CPP that found me on the street and brought me back to live a normal life, I would not have been here today campaigning against drug abuse,” he confessed.
Miss Jessica Chukwudozie from Royal Land College, who spoke on the effects of drugs, said it can be harmful and dangerous to the body.
According to her, social media helps to promote the use of drugs through some of the stories or music they write or play.
“Dome of the stories and music we read and hear in the social media eulogize many of the celebrities we know who are into drugs. By doing so, it seems as if drugs abuse is encouraging.”
She, therefore, called on her fellow students to shun abuse of drugs, but should concentrate on their education.
In his own submission, coordinator of CPP, Amb. Michael Ojobaro, stated that hard drugs are bad to health and makes those involved in it to be irresponsible. He observed that people were scared of taking hard drugs in order not to bring the names of their family to disrepute, but the reverse is the case today, as children take hard drugs without fear.
Ojobaro noted that peer group, fear, addiction and youthful exuberance are among the factors that lead people into drugs abuse.
“A good child will not want to destroy the image of his family. Unfortunately, today, drug abuse has become a normal thing; every child and adult claim taking it to console themselves in the challenging society we are.
“People who are into cultism, cyber crime and armed robbery etc, take drugs. So, due to the trend, it has become a lifestyle in many families.”
He explained that drug abuse makes people to be mentally unstable and become useless to themselves, their families and the society at large. He warned everyone to avoid it.
In a vote of thanks, representative of CLEEN Foundation, Mrs Blessing commended all for participating in the seminar. She advised everyone not to take hard drugs.
“If you want your lives to be useful, don’t do drugs. A life free from drugs, is a successful and productive life. So, be warned,” she said.