President Bola Tinubu says efforts to tackle drug abuse in Nigeria must target motor parks, markets as well as schools.
The president spoke on Wednesday at the celebration of World Drug Day at the State House banquet hall in Abuja.
This year’s World Drug Day is themed ‘The evidence is clear: Invest in prevention.’
The president, represented by the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), George Akume, said the theme speaks volumes as regards where the global community, individual countries, and institutions need to commit more resources in the “collective quest to stamp out the consequences of the abuse of illicit drugs”.
He added that illegal drugs and substances have wreaked havoc on individuals, stating that the socioeconomic and health consequences are inflicting a burden on healthcare systems, the government, and people.
“In the face of such a formidable challenge, prevention is the most potent weapon that we can deploy,” he said.
“Prevention not only saves lives; it also saves resources that would otherwise be spent on treatment and rehabilitation.
“It empowers individuals to make informed choices, promotes healthy lifestyles, and creates resilient communities capable of withstanding the pressures of drug abuse.
“Investing in prevention is not merely a moral imperative but a prudent way of safeguarding our future. By allocating resources towards evidence-based prevention programmes, we can break the vicious cycle of drug abuse and protect our youth from falling prey to the menace.
“Prevention efforts must be comprehensive and target all the elements of society, namely schools, markets, motor parks, workplaces, and communities.
“It must involve all stakeholders, and we all must become stakeholders because the drug problem requires a whole-of-society approach, as no single entity can tackle it alone.”
The president then implored all Nigerians to support the war against drug abuse (WADA) initiative launched by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
He concluded that his administration places youths at the centre and would support NDLEA to consolidate on the success recorded in the past few years.