By Abel Johngold Orheruata
The Presidential Advisory Committee on the elimination of drug abuse has stated its readiness to partner with the the Delta State Government.
The leader of the Committee and also the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Garba Abari, stated this when the committee paid the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Rt. Hon. Movie Agas a visit.
The NOA D-G said that the body was in the state as part of its advocacy and sensitization exercise to enable the state government and the public key into the fight against the menace of drug abuse.
Dr Abari who noted that drug and substance abuse had impacted negatively on families, national psyche, healthcare delivery system, national security and socio economic indices said that the Federal Government had constituted a high level ministerial steering committee chaired by the secretary to the Government of the federation Mr Boss Mustapha.
According to him, the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Elimination of Drug Abuse chaired by retired Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa was making concerted effort in addressing the challenge of drug and substance abuse.
He listed the drugs commonly abused to include caffeine, inhalants, Benzodiazepines, Opium, Codeine, Heroin, Methadone, Cannabis, domestic and industrial chemicals among others, saying that the menace should be a matter of concern to all Nigerians including the government, school heads, religious leaders, social groups and other NGOs.
Responding, the SSG to Delta State Government, Rt. Hon. Ovie Agas, noted that the state government was worried about the abuse of drugs said that abuse was prevalent in every state and was common with the youths.
He said that drug abuse had negative impact on economic development, security and lives of the people and expressed the hope that the federal and state governments would join hands to fight the menace of drug abuse in the society.
The SSG disclosed that the state government had been doing its best through several workshops to sensitize the public on the need to fight drug abuse and equally set up a committee to collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to fight drug abuse in the state.
Some government top officials including the Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr Oghenekaro Ilolo and Commissioner for Higher Education Mr Jude Sinebe were in attendance during the visit.