Oyo State Deputy Governor, Barr. Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Lawal, has commended the lawmaker representing Ibadan North East/South East, Rep. Abass Adigun Agboworin for his efforts in combating drug abuse in Nigeria.
He gave the commendation on Thursday during an advocacy program organized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the House of Representatives Committee on Narcotic Drugs at the Civic Centre, Idi-Ape, Ibadan.
The Deputy Governor acknowledged Agboworin’s tireless efforts, describing his advocacy as timely and a “Yeoman’s job.”
While maintaining that the growing menace of drug abuse in Nigeria required a collective efforts, Barr. Lawal added that no one should allow the fight to be domiciled with NDLEA and NOA alone as our children lives must be saved.
He, however, urged Teachers, Parents, Guardians, Community leaders to join the advocacy stressing that it is through collective efforts one can provide a saner environments to thrive.
In his words: “It is our collective responsibility in providing sanity in our society. I want to use this opportunity to commend Rep. Abass Adigun Agboworin for doing a yeoman’s job on the fight against drug abuse.
“As far as Oyo state is concerned, we are willing and ready to fight the scourge and it is a menace we must collectively challenge. Here, we have put mechanism in place to apprehend culprits who hide under drug abuse to commit heinous crimes.
“Even young people and undergraduates manufacture these drugs on their own so that they can get more potent substance, not minding pharmaceutical shops.
“As a state, family, we must be able to fight it. Every crime is associated with abuse of drugs. Let me also add that this advocacy is very timely for our people. We have a lot to do. We should not allow this fight to be domiciled with NDLEA and NOA alone. This advocacy is germane because we believe that the lives of our children must be saved. They must focus on what they want to become in future. Drugs destroy, it does not build.
“I want to urge Teachers, parents, guardians, community leaders too to join. This is our responsibility because we need saner environments to thrive. And I equally urge the NDLEA and NOA to go to main spots in the public space to sensitize drug abusers.”
Earlier in his remarks, Rep Agboworin, who is the House Chairman Committee on NDLEA, emphasized the urgent need for adequate rehabilitation facilities to combat drug abuse in Nigeria.
He noted that his call for government-owned rehabilitation centers is part of his broader efforts to address the issue of drug abuse in Nigeria.
He said: “We all know that I have been at the forefront of the campaign against drug abuse since I became the Chairman of NDLEA in the House of Representatives. Not only that, I have also been advocating for increased awareness, education, and treatment options for drug abusers.
“I believe the proposed rehabilitation centers will provide a range of services, including counseling and skills training for addicts.”
The lawmaker equally appealed to government at all levels to support the fight against drug abuse by adequately funding the NDLEA which is under his supervision.
He maintained that the agency cannot perform well if it is not well-funded while calling on other state governments to emulate Oyo State Governor, His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, in the fight against the menace.
The highlights of the event included cash empowerment to Ibadan East and SouthEast constituents and honorary award conferred on Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde which was received on his behalf by the Deputy Governor.
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