The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has secured no fewer than eight convictions of drug offenders from February to-date.
The acting Director-General of the agency, Yetunde Oni, disclosed this in Sokoto on Wednesday.
Oni spoke at the flag-off of the agency’s National Education and Awareness Campaign, with the theme: “Drugs are Dangerous: Know The Facts.”
Oni also stated that 52 other drugs suspects were being prosecuted in various law courts across the country.
She averred that the Federal Ministry of Justice was taking the right steps to ensure the speedy prosecution of the suspects.
Oni appealed for more funds to make the agency more effective and efficient, saying that its staff was vibrant, robust and productive.
Oni said: “We need more funds to provide more vehicles, equipment for our laboratories and other needed logistics.
“The Nigerian drugs manufacturing processes should be improved and encouraged to produce quality products, to reduce importation.
“Nigeria should be a producing nation, rather than being a heavily consuming nation.”
Oni further urged Nigerians to key into the change agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari, hence we need to always learn do the right things.
She lamented that drug abuse has become a common and very serious public health issue, especially among the youth.
Governor Aminu Tambuwal, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Bashir Garba, stated that the state government had set up a high-powered, inter-agency taskforce to curb the menace of illicit drugs and other unwholesome substances.
Garba said: “Drug abuse has now regrettably extended even to matrimonial homes, with some couples being drug abusers.
“The state government will support the agency and its sister agencies, to curb the menace.
“Governor Tambuwal is equally concerned with the menace and is determined to do everything humanly possible to counter it.”
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, represented by the District Head of Hamma’ali, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar, commended the agency for organising the event.
Abubakar pledged the support of the Sultanate Council to ensure that the menace was eradicated or drastically reduced.
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