First Lady Urges State Govts to Fight Substance Abuse

By Yosi Ardel (Abuja)

The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has urged state governments to prioritize the fight against substance abuse in their strategic work plans for a safe and secure society.

Mrs Tinubu stated this at the opening ceremony of a two-day drug prevention, treatment, and care training organized by the NDLEA for the spouses of state governors in Abuja.

Mrs Tinubu, who was represented by the wife of the Inspector General of Police, Mrs Elizabeth Egbetokun commended the NDLEA and the Nigerian Governors’ Spouses Forum for their initiative, calling on state governments to collectively combat the menace of drug abuse.

On his part, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, described the Nigerian Governors’ Spouses Forum as a valuable platform to extend the drug war to the grassroots.

Retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa, the NDLEA Chairman, emphasized the need for collective efforts to tackle the menace of drug abuse due to the negative effects on public health, the environment, and the prevailing insecurity across the country.

He urged the governors’ wives to leverage their positions to mobilize support for drug prevention and treatment in their respective states.

Prof Tahir Mamman, the Minister of Education, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Didi Walson-Jack, reiterated the Ministry of Education and NDLEA collaboration to combat substance abuse among students.

The Chairman of the Governor’s Spouses Forum and wife of the Governor of Kwara State, Olufokake Abdulrazaq, assured collaboration with relevant stakeholders to spearhead the fight against harmful substances, especially among the youth.

Dr Oliver Stolpe, Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime; Letizia Torretta, Representative of the European Union; and Dr Gambo Aliyu, Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), all emphasized the need for collective and collaborative efforts to curb the menace of drug abuse.

Edited by Titilayo Kupoliyi

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