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By Christopher Oji
Stakeholders in the fight against drug abuse, misuse and trafficking, recently gathered at Ikeja Grammar School, Oshodi, Lagos, where they sensitized more than 200 children to the dangers of taking or trading in drugs and other banned substances.
The gathering was convened by the Crime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (CRAN) to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, a United Nations campaign against drug abuse and its illegal trade. The day has been observed annually on June 26, since 1989.
CRAN, a body of journalists covering the security beat, as learnt, has been organisng enlightenment campaigns to halt drug abuse and trafficking for the past six years but, during the last event, it gathered students from nine senior and junior secondary schools in Ikeja, Mushin and Oshodi local government areas (Education District 1), in continuation of CRAN’s philosophy of catching the children young and educating them to desist from illicit acts.
The schools included Ikeja Junior Grammar School, Ikeja Senior Grammar School, Ikeja Junior College, Bolade Senior Grammar School, Bolade Junior Grammar School, Oshodi Senior Comprehensive School, Oshodi Junior Comprehensive School, Oshodi Senior High School and Oshodi Junior High School.
The stakeholders, comprising CRAN, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA), the Nigeria Police, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), non-governmental organisations, teachers and others, unanimously took a stand against drug abuse and warned against its attendant effects. They pointed out that drug abuse, particularly among youths, has become an emergency, giving serious concern to security agencies, parents, teachers and those in authority.
This year’s theme, “Addressing Drug Challenges in Health and Humanitarian Crisis,” was applauded by participants, who affirmed that the theme couldn’t have come at a better time.
President of CRAN, Mr. Olalekan Olabulo, who called for more efforts to check drug abuse among the youth, said the wave of drug addiction has tipped the nation into a boiling cauldron, especially as students and pupils now abuse drugs everywhere on a daily basis.
Olabulo said CRAN’s purpose in keying into the United Nations programme was to stem the underlying fact that drug abuse and human trafficking have become a horrifying menace tearing the fabric of the society, directly impacting the youths negatively.
He said: “The wave of drug addiction that is pervading Nigeria has tipped the nation into a boiling cauldron. Youths, especially students and pupils, now abuse drugs. Most of them imbibe substances like cough syrups, Indian hemp and over-the-counter drugs like rohypnol, tramadol, diazepam and lexotan, that should only be sold after a doctor’s prescription.
“The consequences of this development has led to the prevailing cases of banditry, kidnapping, unwanted pregnancies, burglary, broken homes and an upsurge in other crimes.
“Although the crisis is not new, it has become worse, exacerbating into economic, social and physiological crises, which, if unchecked, portends grave danger to the society at large.
“Consequently, the menace is more worrisome to all and sundry because the victims and traffickers of drugs live in the society as neighbours, children, friends, students, siblings and spouses or even parents.
“Today, the disturbing global phenomenon to which no nation is immune has spread to many homes, as children are getting increasingly involved in illicit drugs and substance abuse.”
While thanking all the stakeholders that supported the programme, he hoped that everyone would continue the fight against drug abuse beyond the panel discussion.
The commander, NDLEA, Lagos State Command, Mr. Ayinde Aileru, said hard drugs were posing a great threat to the nation.
Represented by Mr. Oke Semai, Assistant Commandant, Asset and Financial Investigations, he said youths must know the dangers involved in abusing drugs, urging parents to watch out for some signs in their children, with a view to detecting if they were into drugs or not.
“Some of the signs are withdrawal from friends, physical appearance, bloodshot eyes, poor performance at school, changes in physical appearance, sudden wearing of perfume and licking sweets among others.
“Drugs are substances that get to your body and change your thinking, behaviour, there are controlled drugs and should not be taken without medical prescription,” he said.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abiodun Alabi, represented by the command’s spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, lamented that drug intake was a major contributor to crime.
“Taking drugs can get you mad and destabilise your future. Students should shun crime and remain focused, so that you will not end up in correctional centres. Be careful, don’t try to engage in drugs, do not fall for peer pressure. When you start engaging in drugs, it will truncate your future and you will become a nonentity.
“When a minor or teenager commits a grievous offence, he or she will be jailed in the juvenile prison, except when it is a minor offence ,” he counselled.
An official of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Mr. Taiwo Adeboyega, said human traffickers take drugs to sexually abuse their victims.
“Sometimes, drugs are added to victims’ drinks to make them do what they don’t want to do. Some package drugs in their belongings and move them from one location or country to another,” he said.
Dr. Isaac Olatunde of Global Initiative on Substance Abuse warned that taking hard drugs could affect the central nervous system and brain, adding that, “When taking drugs, it affects your reasoning faculty, sense of judgement, that will make you misbehave. Be determined to make your future bright. Do not be involved in drugs so that your tomorrow can be great.”
For Mrs. Yewande Iwuoha, founder of Action Now Against Drug Abuse, many destinies have been derailed for taking drugs, thus, she charged the students not to join others in taking drugs, but, rather, “get involved in sports, painting and other vocations that can even fetch you money.
“Do not be tempted to taste it because, if you do, you will get deeper and even become addicted to it.”
Assistant crime editor, Vanguard newspapers, Mrs. Evelyn Usman, warned parents to always show interest in the upbringing of their children, “Don’t abandon them to only their teachers or househelps, because when things get awry, it is not the teachers or househelps that will suffer, but you the parents. Conduct routine search of your children’s school bags and uniforms. Sometimes, make a surprise visit to their schools and room. Don’t use the excuse that you are too busy at work. Who are you working for, if not your children?
“Watch out what your children are drinking as minerals. Always interrogate what they take as candies and chewing gum. Most children these days lace all the things they eat and drink with drugs. That man operating kiosk on your street, should be investigated because most of them are selling drugs to our children. Religious organizations also have a lot to do in the lives of our kids. They should preach against drugs and warn them on the danger of drugs. Parents should always admonish their children on the danger of drugs and the negative effects on their future. The National Orientation Agency should always carry out enlightenment campaigns against drug abuse and its menace.”
The panel of discussion attracted NDLEA, Lagos, Hundeyin; NAPTIP, Lagos; Iwuoha; and Olatunde, who did justice to the global theme.
In a session moderated by Usman, the panelists were drawn from the police, NDLEA, NAPTIP and NGOs. They also harped on the dangers of hard drugs and effects, especially on youngsters.
On the sidelines, the event, which was compered by THISDAY’s Chiemelie Ezeobi, with assistance from New Agency of Nigeria’s Moses Omorogieva, had several highlights, including the first aid training by South-West zonal coordinator of NEMA, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, who sent a team to represent him.
Students who answered questions were also given several gifts to motivate them to stay true to their resolve to say no to drugs.
