Osun govt takes anti-drug campaign to motor parks, schools, NYSC camp

Noting that the rally was to commemorate the 2025 United Nations World Day Against Drug Abuse, the Special Adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Media and Federal Affairs, Godwin Adedayo, explained that the inclusion of primary schools in the campaign became necessary because younger ones have been involved in drug abuse in recent times.

He said the rally, which was organised by the state Ministry of Federal Affairs, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), was part of efforts to eradicate drug abuse in the state.

“It is not advisable that people go into drug abuse, and that is the essence of why we are doing this rally. We are going to about three or four other parks in the state. Our message is basically to stay away from drug abuse. It is unhealthy, it is not good at all, and it is very dangerous for the body.

“We will be privileged to go to primary schools. We just left the NYSC orientation camp where we spoke to them. So drug abuse cuts across all ages, all parastatals, and all spheres of life. Whether they are young, whether they are old, what we are saying is that they should stay away from drug abuse.

“It is interesting to know that we have cases of younger folks, between the ages of five, six, seven, and eight that are into drugs. So when we discover this, there is nothing more we need to do than to sensitize. And obviously after the sensitization, we will be doing an impact assessment to check whether what we have done is actually working,” Adedayo said.

The state Commander of NDLEA, Adetula Lawal, said the inherent danger in taking drugs is enormous, particularly as it affect people’s health, psychologically, mentally and physically.

“It is not those people that are in prison that are prisoners. If you take drugs, if you are involved in drugs, anything illicit, you are a prisoner. How can we break it? It is to sensitize people to be aware about the inherent dangers in taking drugs.”

The Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Federal Affairs, Adelani Aderinola, added that the dangers of drug abuse is not only limited to health but it also affects families, people’s finances and the economy of the state.

“Taking drugs does not have any advantage at all, no advantage at all. It will destroy your dreams, it will destroy people’s dreams, it will destroy their financial health, it will destroy their offerings. It is better we let them know now that they should stay away from it, because once you start, there is a tendency of getting addicted to it, once you are addicted, it becomes a big problem,” Aderinola said.