NOA urges community leaders to support war against illicit drugs

THE Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Anambra State Directorate, Charles Nwoji, has appealed to community leaders and other critical stakeholders in the state to join forces with the government in the fight against the production, distribution and consumption of crystal methamphetamine, mkpulumiri and other illicit drugs in the state, to nib on the bud the effect of the drugs threatening the well-being of Nigerian society.

  The NOA Director made the appeal in a one-day Security Sensitisation and Re-orientation Programme organised by the agency in collaboration with Akwaihedi Town Union, in Nnewi South Local Government Area of the state, against drug addiction, violent crimes and insecurity.

  Describing consumption of illicit drugs as a source of worry to Nigerian nation, Nwoji attributed the present high rate of crimes in the country, to the new trend in consumption of the illicit drugs.

  The NOA boss, who spoke among other things, advised the people to shun flogging the drug addict as a corrective measure, but rather adopt more meaningful and beneficial ways such as total stoppage of the production and distribution of the drugs in the state and rehabilitation of the addict.

  He further advised community leaders to establish what he called drug control units in their various communities which would collaborate with security agencies in the state in the fight against all forms of illicit drug through effective information sharing mechanism.

  Receiving the NOA Director and officials, who called on him in his palace before the commencement of the programme, the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe John Obiorah Onebunne, wondered why the consumption of the crystal methamphetamine by the youth should spread like a wildfire in in the South East.

  Igwe Onebunne, a retired colonel in Nigeria Army, blamed the exponential increase in the consumption of crystal methamphetamine and other related drugs in the country today on the high level of unemployment, stressing that Akwaihedi community is applying every reasonable measure to reduce the consumption of all forms of illicit drugs in the community.

  Also, the president-general of the community, Oliver Mbagwu, said that his administration is disposed to bringing government agencies down to the community with a view to bringing governance closer to the people of the community and thanked the leadership of NOA for embarking on life-saving programme in the state.

  In a lecture, the Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the state, Mrs Florence Ezeonye, represented by the state Public Relations Officer of the agency, Mr Chris  Adagbo, maintained that the primary objective of the programme was to help the people, especially the youth to  understand the inherent dangers of the crystal methamphetamine to human lives, calling for a total war by all against the demand and supply of the drug in the state with a view to creating a healthy environment for the children and the youth to realise their potentials.

  The event, which was held at the town’s secretariat, was attended by a number of schoolchildren, health officials, representatives of security agencies the local government area, representative of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Chikereuba Ezefunamba and the councilor, representing Akwaihedi Ward, Chief Pascal Umeoduma and the youth leader of the community, Prince Chibuike Ofornedum, who alleged that there were bad elements in the community who smuggle crystal methamphetamine into the area.