The Kebbi Government says it will collaborate with National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control to prevent importation of illegal and substandard drugs in the state.
Governor Atiku Bagudu made the promise in Birnin Kebbi on Monday at the Drug Awareness and Advocacy.
The event was organised by the state Ministry of Youth and Sports Development in collaboration with Northern Governors’ Wives Forum.
He said the state government would step up the intervention in order to arrest the menace, especially among youths.
Bagudu said: “We have to step up our intervention to arrest the situation.
“We cannot support the youth on drugs, simply because they support us; no matter how political relevant they are to us.”
Bagudu called on the traditional and religious leaders to continue to preach against drug abuse and addiction.
Prof. Majisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, said that as part of the role of the agency in creating a drug free Nigeria, about 45 containers of illegal drugs had been intercepted in three months.
She said the agency had clamped down on illegal drugs through intelligence gathering in the country.
Adeyeye said: “Lack of NAFDAC presence at the ports has been one of the problems bedevilling our effort to make the country free from illegal drugs importation.
“If the agency would be allowed at the ports, there will be illegal drug reduction.”
The director-general said the agency had embarked on campaigns against illegal drugs in all the states of the federation.
Earlier, Dr Zainab Bagudu, the Wife of the Kebbi Governor, who spoke on behalf of the NGWF, said the forum focused on drug abuse.
She also said that the focus was to see how members could partner with relevant authorities to put an end to the menace.
Bagudu said: “As mothers, we will not fold our arms and watch our children being destroyed.
“We in Kebbi need to intensify efforts in our various communities and areas through “Kebbi Kicks Drug Volunteers.
“In order to see ways we can put an end to this menace that is gradually destroying the future of our young ones.”
She urged mothers and women to be vigilant and to sensitise their children, brothers and sisters not to be victims of drug.
Bagudu, who rehabilitated a women centre in the state NDLEA command, said the centre was designed to tackle both clinical issues involved with addiction and the underlying emotional ones.
She said: “It will help drug addicts to overcome substance abuse and recover from the physical and mental challenges.
“It will also provide counselling and post-treatment support to help reintegrate drug abuse patients into the society.”
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