Drug abuse killing our youths – Governor Diri laments

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri has lamented the effects of drug use and abuse on Nigerian youths, stating that it was destroying their future.

Diri said this during a stakeholders’ Mega Sensitisation Campaign on Drug Abuse and Prevention in Yenagoa on Wednesday.

The Governor disclosed that his government was committed to eradicating the scourge because of its negative effect on the society.

He expressed his administration’s readiness to make the state free of drug abuse.

Diri urged that everyone should work hard in order to fight against drug abuse, stating that government and relevant agencies alone could not accomplish the desired result.

The Governor said that the setting up of the Bayelsa Drug Abuse Prevention and Rehabilitation Committee, was part of governent’s efforts to rid the state of drug abuse and its consequences.

He further said that he had instructed the construction of a psychiatric hospital, which would be completed within one year.

Diri called on youths in the state to steer clear of drug abuse so as to safeguard their future and fulfil their dreams.

He said, “Drugs and crime go together. The best approach to stop crime is to stop the youths from the use of illicit drugs. We all have the responsibility to check drug abuse as it is not the duty for only government.

“We will stop at nothing until all parts of Bayelsa are free of drug abuse and its effects.

“We cannot afford to have our youths involved in drug abuse. Some of them are very brilliant. Rather than choosing life, they have chosen the path of death.”

In his comments, Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Buba Marwa, represented by the Secretary of the agency, Mr Shadrach Haruna, commended the state for its efforts to get rid of illicit drug abuse.

Marwa disclosed that the initiatives to fight drug peddling and use by the state government were in accordance with the policy of NDLEA.

He urged all government tiers and traditional rulers to support the fight against drug abuse.