A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Drug-Free Arewa Movement has advised the 19 northern states governors to enact stiff penalties to curb rising trafficking in narcotics and other illicit drugs in the region.
Malam Ibrahim Yusuf, Lead Convener of the group, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Kaduna.
Yusuf said that the measure should be urgently taken to tackle the rising menace, which had become a time bomb waiting to completely destroy the region.
He said the supply chain and marketing of Sweet Codeine among youths and women in the region must be addressed.
Yusuf said that researches by various professional groups had linked those involved in crime like kidnapping, cattle rustling, armed robbery and other criminality in the region to influences of such substances.
He said that the coalition of NGOs across the region would sensitise some 23 million young men and women in the 4,611 wards of the 19 states on the dangers of abusing a newly introduced drug known as “Sweet Codeine’’.
“The campaigns are being staged through various conventional and online media such as the social media, markets, worship places and smaller youth groups in communities.
“We just concluded the Arewa Day of Action campaign on April 16, which we mobilised youths, Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) and NGOs to collectively say no to illicit drug trafficking and abuse in the region.
“Available data by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime show that every hour a teenager experiments with illicit drugs for the first time and mostly in this region.
“ About 80 per cent of those involved in the acts take the drug for just one reason, to ease or suppress tension. They do not have knowledge about the multiple negative effects of the drugs they take.
“While we are mobilising on our own part, we demand that governments of the 19 Northern States should put their differences in whatever form aside and set a common goal to curb the production and trafficking in narcotic and other types of drugs in the region.
“ Any laxity or leniency by the governments may tend to encourage the profit-making process of drug trafficking and that would be counter-productive to our collective effort.
“We also demand that the governments should enforce strict and regular raid on dealers hawking/selling drugs to non-eligible buyers and also strictly monitor those selling illicit drugs to minors,’’ the lead convener said.
He advised the region’s governments to also establish State Bureaus for Substance Abuse and to enact a more stringent law against dealers, smugglers and major distributors.
Yusuf urged the governments to add drug sensitisation (drug abuse prevention class) to schools’ curricula.
“Also provide functional rehabilitation centres with well-planned reintegration techniques for repentant addicts back into the society,’’ he advised.
According to him, the governments also need to sensitise the public on the effects of stigmatisation and create methods to engage rehabilitated persons to prevent relapse.
The government, Yusuf noted, should enact laws that would interdict drug smuggling thoroughly at the borders and promote international cooperation.
“The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) should support state governments through massive crackdown on sources of narcotics and illicit drugs supply chains into the north and nip it at the bud.
“The governments of the 19 northern states should establish Drug War Trust Fund to fast track the rehabilitation and reintegration of affected youths back into the society.’’`
The NGO’s lead convener commended Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai and his wife, Hajiya Asiya Ahmed El-Rufai, for participating in the April 16 rally staged to sensitise youths and women in Kaduna.
“We also commend those who took time out to take part in the similar rallies in Niger, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Kogi and Taraba States.
“These are part of our efforts to curb the 19 northern states of illicit drugs and abuse among the youth,’’ Yusuf stressed
