The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Ekiti State Command has called on the security agencies and other stakeholders to collaborate with the agency in its fight against drug abuse.
The state commander, Aina Rufus made the appeal in Ado-Ekiti during the Live Free Project organised by Kayode Adamolekun Foundation themed: “It Takes a Village: Collective Responsibility For Lasting Change.”
Rufus, who expressed worry over the high incidence of substance abuse by youths in the state, said that violent tendencies exhibited by youths are a result of intake of illicit drugs.
The NDLEA boss added that the issue of drug abuse was becoming overwhelming for the government, hence the need for security agencies, and individual and group efforts to curb it.
He commended the foundation for its sustained efforts in tackling drug abuse among youths through sensitization of students to the dangers associated with drug abuse.
The founder of the Kayode Adamolekun Foundation, Engr. Kayode Adamolekun who advocated stiffer penalties for drug abusers, backed the bill prescribing the death penalty for persons found guilty of trading or consuming hard drugs.
He explained that the stiff punishment prescribed by the bill before the National Assembly would deter peddlers and sellers from engaging in drug-related activities.
He said: “I can’t wait to see the President assent his signature. That bill must be signed into law. If there are no peddlers and sellers, nobody will buy. If we leave people who are selling in the industry and we want to keep chasing people in the rural areas, we are not going to succeed. If we deal with the source, then we would have gone halfway in dealing with the issue of drugs in our society. It was a fantastic news.
“It’s simply doing our best to contribute to the society we belong and to see the kind of country we desire and there is nothing more than that. Sometimes, if you do a programme and one person gets the message, you have done well. We are seeing results and sometimes it may take years for us to see the result of what we are doing en masse but I know we are changing our society.
“We keep blaming our representatives, governors, and Presidents. What are you doing to change the narrative? My appeal to our youths is that we should not allow the situation of the country to weigh us down. Let us arise and do our bid to change the country. We can be great. I employ all the youths to rise to the responsibility.”
