Minister Decries Youths On Drug Abuse

05.07.2008

The Minister of Youth Development, Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi has decried widespread drug abuse and addiction among youth in Northern part of the country, promising that his ministry has entered into collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ([NDLEA) and the United Nations Office for Drug Control to curb the menace.

Speaking in his office after receiving the preliminary report of the collaboration with the listed agencies, the minister in a statement by his special assistant, Mr. Olawale Rasheed, noted that his ministry took the initiative after his trip to many parts of the North where he said respected leaders identified drug abuse as a major threat to youth development in the Northern part of the country.

“When I paid courtesy call on our reverred royal father, the Emir of Katsina, this issue was top on the list. The same thing happened when I visited our father, the Emir of Kano recently. We are determined to mount a campaign in collaboration with state governments and the identified agencies,” the minister was quoted as saying.

Olasunkanmi who said the planned campaign will coordinate and harmonise the existing initiatives commended some northern state governments who have taken up the challenge, promising that “the federal initiative will speed up and complement their drive to rid the youth of this destructive habit.

“Many of our governors in the north and even in the south are doing a lot in this respect. But there must be a national plan with all stakeholders on board. Relevant federal ministries and agencies are to be involved because the menace demands a national effort,” he said.