Tinubu seeks funding of preventive measures to break drug abuse cycle

…As NDLEA arrests 52,901, secures 9,000 convictions in three years – Marwa

By Egena Sunday Ode

Worried by the havoc wreaked by drug abuse on individuals and families, President Bola Tinubu has canvassed support for funding evidence-based preventive measures in order to save lives and conserve resources that would otherwise be used on treatment and rehabilitation.
Tinubu stated this on Wednesday in a keynote address at the commemoration of the World Drug Day at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The theme of this year’s commemoration is, “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention.”
The day is set side by the United Nations to raise awareness about the global challenge of drug abuse and trafficking.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government the Federation, Senator George Akume, Tinubu said the theme underscored the imperative to commit more resources in the collective and coordinated quest to stamp out the consequences of abuse of illicit drugs.
He commended organisations, communities, and individuals working towards preventing drug abuse and its associated harms, notIng that illicit drugs and substances had wreaked havoc on individuals, families, communities and countries worldwide.
According to him, the socioeconomic and health consequences of drug abuse are not only devastating to lives but also put a strain on healthcare systems.
“Drug abuse imposes a burden on government and people and the ramifications of its consequences reverberate across generations.
“In the face of such a formidable challenge, prevention is the most potent weapon that we can deploy.
“Prevention not only saves lives; it also saves resources that would otherwise be spent on treatment and rehabilitation.
“It empowers individuals to make informed choices, promotes healthy lifestyles and creates resilient communities capable of withstanding the pressures of drug abuse.
“Investing in prevention is not merely a moral imperative, but a prudent way of safeguarding our future. By allocating resources towards evidence-based prevention programmes, we can break the vicious cycle of drug abuse and protect our youth from falling prey to the menace.
“Prevention efforts must be comprehensive, and must target all the elements of society namely schools, markets, motor parks, workplaces and communities.
“It must involve all stakeholders, and we all must become stakeholders because the drug problem requires a whole-of-society approach, as no single entity can tackle it alone.
“Effective prevention requires a broad spectrum of collaboration whereby governments, civil society, academia and the private sector work hand in hand.
“It also requires that we strengthen international cooperation, share best practices and support each other in our efforts to prevent drug trafficking,” Tinubu said.
The president reassured that his administration would ensure the protection of young people from anything that could derail their future or destroy their potential.
He said: “The assignment before us as a country requires that we prioritise evidence-based prevention strategies, allocate adequate resources and foster partnerships for greater impact,” he said.
President Tinubu added that his government will support NDLEA and other stakeholders to build on the success recorded in the past few years.
“Together, we can build a country where every individual has the opportunity to live a drug-free life, where communities thrive, and where hope replaces despair.”
In his remarks earlier, Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), revealed that the agency arrested 52,901 drug traffickers, including 48 barons, and secured over 9,000 convictions of suspects in the last three years.
He noted that the agency’s offensive action had resulted in the seizure of over 7.6 million kilograms of assorted illicit substances, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and cannabis.

Marwa said the agency’s success in prosecution is a testament to its commitment to bringing drug criminals to justice.

On the theme of the commemoration, the drug czar affirmed that efforts to achieve a drug free Nigeria is being led with preventive steps, one of which has been blocking distribution channels.

His words: “The imperative to invest in prevention is dictated by evidence-based results that have shown that prevention is far more cost effective than dealing with the consequences of drug use disorder. Because, after all, prevention is better than cure. “