Illicit drug use: Senate moves to establish rehabilitation centers across the country

- The Nigerian Senate has urged the federal government to establish rehabilitation centers to help victims of drug abuse

- The rehabilitation centers are expected to be in each of the 36 states of the nation

- According to the deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, drug abuse negatively affects the productivity of the youth

Following its round-table discussion aimed at addressing the drug use epidemic across the nation late last year, the Senate on Tuesday, February 20, passed a motion calling on the federal government, through the Ministry of Health to establish rehabilitation centers in each of the 36 states of the nation.

In a motion sponsored by Senator Jeremiah Useni and nine other senators, the Senate noted that with more rehabilitation centers in the country, addicts would be able to receive professional treatment in the short and long term, thereby, bringing down the rate of addiction and crime in the country.

“Drug addicts are seen everywhere on the streets. I have the strong belief that if the rehabilitation centers are established there will be less crime in the society,” said Senator Philip Gyunka

Speaking on the motion, deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, emphasized that drug abuse negatively affects the productivity of our youth, stating that there was a need to stop the distribution of dru*s at both the wholesale and retail levels.

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“This issue of drug abuse is a threat to youths' productivity. There’s a need to break the chain between the dealers and users as it is fostering crimes in the country. Security agencies should curb the distribution of dru*s,” Ekweremadu said.

Commending the Senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Senator Joshua Lidani stated that the motion stemmed from the Senate round-table organized in Kano last year, which shed light on how big of an issue drug use is in the country.

The Senate further resolved to urge relevant stakeholders like the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to key into the proposed rehabilitation centers, while, mandating its committee on secondary and tertiary health to ensure that the federal government gives the centers the needed attention when established.

Meanwhile, the Kogi state police command has dismissed three of its officers for their alleged involvement in the trafficking of 30 bags of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.

The command’s public relations officer, William Aya, who confirmed this recently, said the officers were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for prosecution.

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According to him, the officers were dismissed after they were found guilty by a board room trial conducted by the police.

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Source: Legit.ng