Drug is the plant upon which all Nigerian insecurity crisis stands, according to narcotics experts and administrators, but a students’ union leader has pointed strong finger at families where failure may be oozing from.
This is as the Nigerian Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Rivers State has captured over 145 drugs lords who distribute the devil’s substances to young people and fuel the energy for violence and insecurity.
As the world marked World Drugs Day, BusinessDay went in search of the real culprits in the chain of blame on why young persons seem to easily succumb to the lure and power of drug addiction.
A university student and young person who often comes face-to-face with colleagues deviating and dissolving into drugs crisis, 19-year-old Cyril Golden Chisom, told BusinessDay in an exclusive interview on World Drug Day drugs addiction problems must be blamed on families.
Asked to trace the point of deviation between an drugs-free youth and the addict, the 300-level Sociology student of the Rivers State University (RSU), said the difference is the home.
He said: “I think the home you come from makes the difference. The family plays a very vital role in the making or not making of a drugs addict. It means family is the most basic and most important place to decide who a dugs addict will be.”
He gave tips, saying no parent should allow his or her child to lose fear of the parents. “My mother used to scold me all my days as a kid. She made sure that my twin and elder brothers never came near dugs and dirty matters. These are things most parents ignore. They should look into the inner matters of a child. No matter how big you think your kids have become, be courageous to confront and checkmate them.”
He insisted that the family is key. “To this day, if my dad calls me, as big as I look, I will shake and answer. The fear a child has for the parents should not be allowed to fade. The young people are mimicking wrong things such as fear of their parents. Parents are the ones that would tell a child the right thing to do.”
On threats to young ones, Chisom said the threat is real, saying the situation the youth find themselves in connection with illicit drugs is scary. “My peer groups are involved in taking drugs to feel high or take away bad moments, which is a wrong way of solving such problems.
“In this University, we have had issues with students habouring and trafficking these drugs, but the leadership of the institution, Vice Chancellor, Sunday Okogbule, and able chief security officer, in conjunction with the Students Union Government (SUG) under Manuel Kelechi, has been able to tackle this issue amongst students.
“That is why we are able to work with the Right Minds group here to charge the students and tell them the ills of drug abuse and drug trafficking and the wrongs these can cause to the society.”
As students union leaders, he emphasised, they have made sure that they lift the spirits of the students outside drugs and make them see the right things and to not embrace drugs. “We discourage them from drugs that make them go mad. Some can lose their admission.
“We have had a minimal or zero-incident about drugs of late. This may show that we are doing a good job. That is why we are here to mark the day.”
That could be the World Drug Day seemed successful in the RSU, formerly University of Science and Technology (UST).
Contributing, an anti-drugs advocate, Grace Alawa, Executive Director, Sustainable Action for Nature, told BusinessDay that part of the war against drugs and illicit drug trafficking is about behavior that affects society’s well being as humans. “We are actually partnering with Right Minds Network and the NDLEA on the war against drugs. Collaboration and partnership is the way to go.
“The war against drug abuse cannot be fought by one person. So, we partner to create awareness. Bigger organisations should come out and help to save the youths.”
She may not be a mother yet but Alawa talked about the pains mothers go through over a child that is on drugs. “Once you have a child, you feel worried about their wellbeing up to any age. You wonder what they are doing at any point in time. You want the best for your child. So, you keep a check on them; what are you doing, I hope you are not into cultism, drugs, etc. You will never have rest, even until old age. That is why you are a parent. You are their guardian.”
Read also: Osinbajo, others raise concern over projected 40% rise in drugs use
Alawa believes government is doing not more than 30 per cent to save youths from drugs crisis. “They should come out boldly and campaign against drugs. Organise campaigns, rallies, etc, to speak to the young people. Carry out events that attract the youths and them preach against drug abuse. You cannot sit in the offices and preach to the youths. It needs all of us. Government should come down and talk to the youths. It’s not about sitting in offices to make policies”.
A notable anti-drugs campaigner in the Niger Delta, John Best Uche, leader of the Right Minds Network, who organized annual roadworks and mobilization of various groups including the NDLEA, said this is a huge contribution to the achievement and realisation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, especially goal three (UN SDG 3) – Good Health and Well-being (Target 3.5: Strengthening the prevention and treatment of substances including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol) – and to ensure a healthy society.
Uche said Right Minds Leaders Network is committed to taking the War Against Drug Abuse to young people beginning from students communities. “Addressing Drug Challenges in Health and Humanitarian Crises” as a theme tries to see the reality of things where young people resort to using hard drugs as a way out of their challenges, which is absolutely a wrong option.
Saying the fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking is a collective responsibility, the coordinator said; “I am just a passionate social advocate who craves for impact and believes in the possibility of having a more responsible citizenry for a better African Society and by extension, the world. Only what I do and enjoy doing is to collaborate with concerned experts in the areas of my advocacy which I think is one good thing to do.
“Our appeal is for international organisations, corporate organisations, Government (Federal, State and Local) to lend their support to local or grassroots organisations like Right Minds Leaders Network who have taken it as a responsibility to shoulder this course for a better and worthy society. The support here could be financial sponsorship, endorsements and other possible areas to make the task easier for all and for a far-reaching impact.”
NDLEA: We are determined to keep Rivers drugs-free
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Command of the NDLEA revealed on the World Drugs Day that over 145 drugs traffickers have been knocked out of circulation in the State since January 2022 with over 722 kilograms of illicit drugs.
The Command said cocaine, heroin, cannabis sativa, methamphetamine, topped other psychotropic substances.
The Commander, Ahmed Mamuda, said the Command was determined to ward off traffickers from the state with active support of the Rivers State government.
Speaking to stakeholders mostly youths and students at the Rivers State University (RSU) after a walk around the city to mark the 2022 UN International Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking, the Commander spoke on: “Addressing Drug Challenges in Health and Humanitarian Crisis”.
Mamuda said drug abuse has emerged as the biggest threat to the next generation, saying the society or a nation can easily be wiped out by drugs.
He said drug is behind violence and insecurity that seem to take over Nigeria at the moment, saying citizens must rise up to defend itself by joining the war against drug abuse, which he aid knows no age or religion.
He said the NDLEA as the statutory body concerned with the eradication of drug abuse and illicit trafficking has taken the bull by the horn and is poised to root out the agents of death in our society.
“Here in Rivers State, the Command has been working round the clock to make the state a no-go area for drug traffickers.
Permit me to inform you that from January 2022 to date, our operational efforts have resulted in the arrest of over 145 drug suspects (26 females and 119 males), with a seizure of 722.23kg of various illicit drugs, mainly cocaine, heroin, cannabis sativa, methamphetamine, and other psychotropic substances.
The command has also secured the conviction of 58 drug suspects to various jail terms within this period while 60 cases are still pending at the federal high court, Port Harcourt.
“This year, the emphasis is on those already caught in the unfortunate web of drug addiction, hence the theme: “Addressing Drug Challenges in Health and Humanitarian Crisis”. Emphasis is on addressing transnational challenges stemming from situations of crisis,
We continue to advocate protecting the rights to health for the most vulnerable including children and youth, people using drugs, people with drug use disorder, and people who need access to controlled medicines. So, do your part.”
He said the Command beside arresting and prosecuting drugs dealers also offers counseling and rehabilitation services to those that have fallen victim to drugs and cannot seem to find a way out.
“The Drugs Demand Reduction unit of the Rivers State Command has admitted 27 drug dependent (clients) since January 2022, while a total of 21 have been counseled, rehabilitated, and reintegrated into society. There are currently 28 drug-dependent clients in our facility undergoing this process.”
In his remarks, John Best Uche, the Director of Right Minds Leaders Network, one of the main partners of the campaign in the state, said the effect of the event is a reduction in the crime and other social vices that have bedeviled our society to a large extent and to an almost-irreparable state.
He went on: “This is also to address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), specifically goal 3 – Health and Wellbeing (Target 3.5: Strengthening the prevention and treatment of substance including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol).
“Narrowing it to Rivers State where it is almost becoming a trend. This would also serve as a measure to curb the menace of increase of violence which can be traceable to abuse of drugs.”
