FG will support initiatives for young people to live drug free lives – Tinubu

President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday said, his administration will continue to invest in school based programmes and support grassroots initiatives, lauch leisure work campaigns that empower young people to live drug free lives.

He said, living a drug free life can only be a guarantee for the treasured life that is filled with purpose and process towards fulfilment.

The President who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume stated this at the “United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking”, which held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.

Speaking on the Theme: “The Evidence is Clear”, Invest in prevention, Akume called for treatment of drug addicts without stigma, shame and delay, noting that the Bola Tinubu-led administration was working assiduously to expand drug addict treatment centres, train health professionals and integrate drug free applications so that victims can live their normal lives.

Akume said: “We must continue to invest in school-based programs, support grassroots initiatives, and launch leisure work campaigns that empower young people to live drug-free lives, and to treasure a life filled with purpose. and process, such prevention alone is not enough.

“We must also guarantee access to treatment without stigma, shame, and delay. Drunk attendance is not a moral claim, as we have wrongly believed in the past. In Nigeria, we are working to expand treatment centers, train health professionals, and integrate drug-free applications into our broader application system.”

Emphasising the importance of recovery, Akume stressed that recovery was not momentary, but a journey which includes, treatment, job opportunity, health support and housing opportunities for the treated victims in order for them to be properly integrated into the society.

“Through our drug control master plan, recovery, too, must be at the heart of our efforts. Recovery is not a moment, but a journey. It demands more than just treatment. It requires employment opportunities, safe housing, tremendous health support, and above all, hope.

“We must build a society where no one is defined by their past, but uplifted by their potential. A society where second chances are not rare or routine. Let us also be clear. this fight is not for government alone, it must be a national movement driven by families, faith leaders, civil society organizations, youth groups, community leaders, businesses, and people with needs, Your voices matter. Your stories inspire, our leadership is essential.

According to him, this year’s them succinctly captured the mood of the administration with regards to the needed attention to be given to drug related challenges, thus, urging faith leaders, families and other stakeholders to get involved as government alone cannot do it.

“This year’s theme, the evidence is clear is the best intervention and a wake-up call which has its very useful state, that breaks the grip of drug abuse. It has destroyed our complete life, has set us under the mind and fabric of our communities.

“This year’s theme calls us to remember the damage of substance abuse has caused them to recognize our responsibility, responding with courage, compassion, and coordinated action.”

Speaking further on the dangers of drug abuse, he said: “Drug abuse respects no boundary in Nigeria. In Nigeria, as in many other countries, and I think that’s the main of the problem. we have witnessed a major impact. of central views on our youth, our families, our communities, and even our national security.

“Lives are lost, potential is wasted, health systems are damaged, and the ripple effects travel across generations. The social, economic, and mental consequences are not in short of devastating. Yes, amid this crisis, we have seen something powerful.”

Despite this damaging trend that is inherent in drug abuse, Akume said, the society has got a solution in form of resilience, saying: “Resilience, we have seen communities pull together. Health workers, labor, and people who were once put in a grip of addiction rise again.

“Stronger lives are determined to lead, hence, it is our duty, not just as governments, but as fellow human beings, to ensure that the road to recovery is accessible and never improper.

“Faced with a tremendous risk of health, our response must be holistic. It begins with prevention. To put it plainly, prevention is our most vigorous defense. It saves lives, saves resources, and builds strength from the ground up.

“By prioritizing education, early intervention, and youth engagement, we give people the tools to make informed choices. We foster healthy lifestyles and resilient communities.

“Communities that can resist the pressures that lead to substance misuse and abuse. This is why we must continue to invest in school-based programs, support grassroots initiatives, and launch leisure work campaigns that empower young people to live drug-free lives, and to treasure a life filled with purpose. ”

Meanwhile, Chairman of MTN Foundation, Dr Bosun Belo-Olusoga in his speech commemorate the ‘International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking’, said the Foundation will gladly join the the rest of the world to raise awareness and create solutions to challenges of drug abuse and trafficking across the nation.

He said youth development being one of the core pillars of the foundation, they have through, “the Anti Substance Abuse Programme”, actively propagated and raised awareness on social media, targeted campaigns and intervention with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

Dr Belo-Olusoga said: “Since our launch 2019, we have reached millions of Nigerians and aim to do even more, not alone, but alongside great minds.

“This is all our fight, and we need to play a part in sensitising communities and developing new
policies to counter this scourge.

The Foundation said, it was collaborating with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, National Youth Service Corps and other stakeholders to curb the scourge.

The event was attended by diplomats, United Nations representatives, government dignitaries, military and paramilitary agencies.