What Delta State Gov. Oborevwori demands from NDLEA

Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta is asking the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to declare a state of emergency on substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.

The governor made the demand on Wednesday when the NDLEA’s Assistant Commandant General (Narcotics) and Director of Administration and Establishment, Alhaji Hamisu Lawal, paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Asaba.

He said such an emergency declaration would go a long way in helping to mitigate the worrisome trend of substance and illicit drug abuse in the country.

Oborevwori listed the factors responsible for the substance and illicit drug abuse to include poor socio-economic background, bad parenting, family problems, poor academic performance and social pressure.

According to him, substance abuse and the use of illicit drugs affect the youth, especially those in secondary and tertiary institutions, making them to be unruly and destructive.

He condemned the recent ugly incident involving the NDLEA that led to the death of a two-year-old child in Okpanam area of the state.

He noted that substance abuse and illicit drugs were on the increase in contemporary Nigerian society.

He, therefore, reiterated his advocacy for a concerted effort to stem the unfortunate scenario, while appealing to the Agency to sustain its effort aimed at ensuring that Nigeria became a substance abuse-free nation.

“I want to acknowledge the NDLEA for what they are doing in the war against drug trafficking and the use of illicit drugs.

“In recent times, there has been an increase in drug abuse and it is not a good thing for our state and our country,” Oborevwori said.

He encouraged the NDLEA to do more by beaming its searchlights at most villages, rural areas where drug abuse has become the order of the day.