President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, announced his administration’s determination to collaborate with the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency and international partners to tackle the menace of drug abuse. He called upon stakeholders to embrace a people-oriented approach in addressing drug addiction, emphasising the importance of providing care and support to addicts as fellow human beings striving to recover from the harmful grip of drugs.
At the State House in Abuja, during the national conference commemorating this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking, Tinubu said:
‘I want to assure everyone including our local and international partners this administration’s unwavering support…for the sustenance of drug control efforts’
The President, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, stressed that interventions aimed at tackling drug use and its consequences should acknowledge the individual and confront the social stigma associated with this issue.
Referring to individuals grappling with drug abuse, he said, ‘These groups often face barriers in accessing the health care and social services within the society in addressing their drug use problems.’
‘Therefore, interventions to address drug use and its associated consequences need to be mindful of the fundamental individual. Stigma, both social and structural, which is one of the most common barriers to access support and services must be removed.’
He appealed to stakeholders, urging them to enhance their knowledge on the risks of drug abuse and actively spread awareness, while also emphasising the crucial need to eliminate stigma and discrimination.
‘We must empower our youth with the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions about their lives and the resources they need to avoid falling prey to drugs,’ Tinubu added.
Highlighting the importance of empathy towards those struggling with drug abuse, Tajudeen Abbas, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, underscored that addiction should not be seen as an insurmountable hurdle.
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Represented by his deputy, Benjamin Kalu, he assured the National Assembly’s unwavering support for government policies that facilitate productive engagement among Nigerians, particularly the youth who are susceptible to substance abuse.
Addressing the issue, Buba Marwa, the Chairman of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, drew attention to the detrimental impact of stigmatization on individuals struggling with drug abuse and their journey to recovery.
He noted the significance of society embracing understanding and empathy, thereby encouraging these individuals to seek assistance and engage with available recovery support systems.
‘They are human beings with inherent dignity, deserving of understanding, empathy, and support…Our prejudices hinder their access to healthcare, employment and social support systems.’
‘Hence, we must work to break down the barriers that prevent people from seeking help and foster an environment where they feel safe, respected, and encouraged to access the necessary treatments and interventions,’ Marwa added.
Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, Chairman of the MTN Foundation, said that the counterproductive effects of profiling individuals facing drug abuse as criminals pose challenges to their journey of recovery.
He noted that this type of profiling exposes them to treatments that impede their access to vital social support systems, which play a role in their successful rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
Adelusi-Adeluyi, represented by the Director of the Foundation, Dennis Okoro, stated, ‘Why we brought some of these organizations in is to reduce the stigmatisation of youths caught with drugs. We should stop making them criminals ab initio. And for me, they are not.’
He shed light on the detrimental consequences of sending addicts to correctional centers, highlighting that this approach further exacerbates their feelings of rejection and could potentially result in their gradual desensitisation to negative influences encountered within the confines of the cells- this counters the original aim.
‘So the message is that these are youths, they are children. Treat them like your own children. Give them a human face. See them as children who have had tension and emotional disturbance from bad homes or neglect, and rehabilitate them with love,’ he urged.
Reginald Okeya, a Director at the MTN Foundation, provided an explanation for the telecom giant’s engagement in the anti-drug campaign, citing the nationwide prominence of drug-induced mental illness as a driving factor.
He acknowledged that despite the persistence of drug abuse cases across the nation, ‘a lot of Nigerians have come to know and hear about drug abuse,’ he added.
The theme for the 2023 commemoration is People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention.
Notable individuals in attendance included George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Oliver Stolpe, the Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker representing the Speaker of the House of Representatives; Beatrice Jedy-Agba, the Solicitor General of the Federation; Dennis Okoro, the Representative of the Chairman of the MTN Foundation; and Ogbonna Onovo, the Former Inspector-General of Police.