Lawmaker Calls For Effective Efforts In Fighting Drug Abuse

One of the lawmakers in the Lagos State House of Assembly has pleaded for proactive efforts to be taken in fighting drug abuse in Nigeria.

Sanni Okanlawon warned that if this trend is not urgently addressed it would cause adverse effect on the socio-economy progress of the country.

Okanlawon who is represents Kosofe Constituency 1 made this call during the 7th Annual Constituency Stakeholders’ meeting which held simultaneously in the 40 Constituencies of the Lagos State House of Assembly was themed “Increasing Wave of Drug Abuse: A Threat to nation Building”.

Okanlawon reiterated efforts of the Lagos State House of Assembly to control the menace of the substance abuse with viable legislations.

Several laws and resolutions have been initiated by the House to prevent drug abuse among youths and enabled more useful to themselves and to the society.

Okanlawon promised that there were some bills ahead in the House expected to better the life of the youth.

Represntative of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mrs. Ngozi Okocha, in her lecture, warned that the trend of the drug abuse should be timely addressed as the effect is becoming a threat to the society.

Mrs. Okocha described the issue to be too problematic to the socio-economy as facilities are overwhelmed with drug related criminals. She stated that facilities such as prisons and courts are overwhelmed with too many drug related cases. And this is seriously posing a threat to security and health.

She advised that community should be of assistance to drug victims, as provisions are made by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for rehabilitation of such victims.