The Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum (NGSF) has urged both the Federal and State Governments to declare a state of emergency on substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking across Nigeria, aiming to galvanize resources toward combating the pervasive issue.
This call was articulated in a communique released following a two-day Drug Prevention Treatment and Care (DPTC) training organized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for wives of state governors in Abuja. Ambassador Olufolake Abdulrasaq, Chairperson of the Forum and First Lady of Kwara state, signed the communique on Tuesday.
Among the resolutions highlighted in the communique, the Governors’ spouses emphasized the urgent need to revitalize the State Drug Control Committees (SDCC), enhance rehabilitation programs focusing on holistic recovery, and address the mental and physical health aspects of drug addiction. Additionally, they stressed the necessity for both Federal and state governments to declare a state of emergency on illicit drug use and trafficking, with a focus on mobilizing resources to combat the issue effectively.
The communique also outlined several other resolutions, including fostering good parenting practices, supporting early detection policies for drug users, strengthening collaboration between government entities and security agencies, and establishing standard drug rehabilitation centers across the country.
According to the First Ladies, these resolutions were formulated based on an understanding of the link between drug abuse and various societal challenges such as criminality, school dropouts, family problems, and their adverse effects on national security and economic stability.
While acknowledging the efforts of the NDLEA under the leadership of Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), particularly in recent successes against drug trafficking and abuse, the governors’ wives affirmed their commitment to implementing the knowledge gained during the training in their respective states.
Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd), Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, commended the First Ladies for their active participation in the training and urged them to translate the lessons learned into concrete actions in their states to address the scourge of drug abuse effectively.
