The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has tasked Federal Government on ending drug abuse in the country.
The former Anambra state governor also called for serious punishment for any law offenders found guilty.
Obi disclosed this in a statement on X page, on Wednesday while commemorating the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The LP candidate blamed economic hardship and unemployment for causing drug addiction among young people.
He said: “For a predominantly youthful population, Nigeria, where poverty and unemployment are on the increase, the incidence of drug abuse remains high. Economic hardship and other poor socio-economic factors have been identified as the leading factors fueling drug abuse among our youth.
“A report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) states that Nigeria and some African countries will witness a 40 per cent rise in the population of drug users, especially the youth population if urgent measures are not taken.”
“The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) reports that about 14.3 million Nigerians aged 15-64 years, abuse drugs.
“The National Bureau of Statistics reports a 14.4 per cent drug prevalence in Nigeria, which is twice the global average of 5.8 per cent.
READ MORE: Company MDs, VIPs, Their Children Are Also Into Drugs – NDLEA
“The government should invest in rehabilitating those already caught in the web of drug abuse and stringent punishment meted out to drug traffickers.
“Drugs and substance abuse have contributed to high rates of crime, moral decadence in society, and other associated health hazards. It also greatly dampens the productivity of people, especially the youth population.
“We must, therefore, seek to save our nation from the menace of drug abuse and illicit trafficking. More efforts must be channelled into preventing the spread of this virus.”
We must, therefore, seek to save our nation from the menace of drug abuse and illicit trafficking. More efforts must be channelled into preventing the spread of this virus.
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) June 26, 2024
