Paschal Emeka, Abuja | February 20, 2023
The Principal Staff Officer, Drug Demand Reduction Unit of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Chigbu Odoemelam Chile has regretted the gait of drug misuse in Nigeria and attributed the menace to social pathologies such as unemployment, family disintegration, cultural factors, psychological factors, peer pressure, drug availability and accessibility, frustration, drug advertisements genetic problems amongst others.
Chilee made this assertion when he represented the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd.) at the inauguration of National Association of Nigerian Drug Monitoring (NANDRUM), in Abuja by the Senate and House of Representatives joint Committee on Narcotics.
According to Chilee, ” while government is doing everything within their power to clampdown completely on the menace, other agencies like private organizations, non governmental organizations (NGOs), Civil Society Oganisations (CSOs) are also expected to play vital roles in making Nigeria a drug free society.
He advised that the society should not look at the drug addicts as people with character problems rather, rehabilitation programmes for their integration back to the society should be paramount.
Highlights of the event were the issuance of certificates to the Executives and Ambassadors of NANDRUM. There were also cultural displays among others.