Security
Drug abuse among youths is an issue that cannot be ignored in today’s world because it is a growing concern for all countries and a big problem area for humanity. Africa and indeed the international community should begin to address this problem just as the world currently devotes energy, time and resources to climate change to save the planet, the same strength, sentiment and funds should be devoted to curb drug abuse among youths to secure the future of coming generations.
By Goddy Ikeh
AS the delegates at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt, depart after fruitful deliberations on the devastating effects of Climate Change and pledges made to assist in ameliorating the effects globally, the czar of the war against drug tracking in Nigeria, and Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, retired Brig-Gen. Buba Marwa is raising alarm on the dangerous trend which drug abuse is assuming in in the developing world, especially in Africa.
Speaking at the 10th Anniversary Lecture of Realnews Magazine in Lagos on Thursday, November 17, 2022, Marwa warned that “drug abuse among youths is an issue that cannot be ignored in today’s world because it is a growing concern for all countries and a problem area for humanity. In the past two decades, we have seen a dramatic rise in drug abuse around the world and more than ever before, the situation is becoming complicated and dire.”
According to Marwa, in Africa, where countries are struggling with development issues, it is recognised that the prevalence of drug use among youths will impact the future of the continent, for better or for worse, depending on how we respond to the trend.
He, therefore, urged African countries to attend to this problem and stated that “just as we devote energy, time and resources to climate change to save the planet, we must also deploy the same strength, sentiment and systems to curb drug abuse among youths to secure the future of coming generations”.
Delivering his keynote address on “Drug Abuse Among Youths In Africa: Implication For Nigerian Economy And 2023 Election”, Marwa simply distilled the available facts and further heightened the awareness of some cogent areas that need urgent attention.
Specifically, Marwa stated that Nigeria cannot afford to trivialise the drug abuse menace in light of the country’s illicit drug statistics and “that is why every opportunity for public discourse on this subject matter is highly appreciated because keeping drug issues on the front burner in society is one way of catalysing solutions to the scourge”.
“To start with, Nigerians are not ignorant about drug trafficking and drug abuse issues. The activities of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in the past 22 months have given our society a clear picture, certainty and the severity of the drug problem in the country,’’ he said.
According to him, the arrest of 19, 341 drug offenders and subsequent conviction of 3, 111 in addition to the seizure of 5.5 million kilograms of assorted drugs in 22 months are incontrovertible facts of a deeply entrenched illicit drug subculture.
He recalled that many Nigerians found it hard to believe that illicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin are trafficked in and out of the country and that now that the NDLEA has made huge seizures, and there is no basis for scepticism anymore. “If anything, NDLEA activities since January 2021 have further reinforced the facts of Nigeria being an important hub in the global illicit drug network, and secondly, that our country is not only a transit pipeline but also a market,” he added.
On specific ways that the youth drug abuse subculture affect the country, Marwa stated that apart from the public health burden, there is the issue of los of productivity.
He, however, warned that with a lot of youths abusing these drugs, society has on its hand a ticking time bomb that could blow up to become a public health catastrophe a few years down the line.
“That is a burden that African countries, including Nigeria, should avoid. Noting that in 2007, America spent $11 billion on healthcare–for drug treatment and drug‐related medical consequences–the question before us is: Are we prepared for such eventuality? The reality is we are not. We neither have the health facility nor the money to waste.
On some of the efforts made to handle the victims of drug abuse, Marwa said: “Between January 2021 and October 2022, the NDLEA counselled and rehabilitated over 12, 326 drug users. Over 80 per cent of them are young people. In the same vein, we have arrested 19, 341 offenders within this period, with 3, 111 convicted in court and as many as 3,500 cases pending. Over 50% are young people, still under the age of 40. All of these – treatment and the criminal justice system, namely criminal investigation, prosecution and incarceration, cost the government huge money.”
Incidentally, Marwa is not alone in canvassing for a global action to be taken against drug abuse among youths. The publisher of Realnews Magazine, Maureen Chigbo, who also raised alarm of the menace of drug abuse in Nigeria, said: “We watched viral videos of how Mkpulumiri is wrecking the lives of not just young people but old people too.
“We heard stories of how students indulge in anti-social behaviours and some even go to the extent of damaging school buildings to pilfer the roofs to sell to meet their drug needs.”
According to her, drug abuse has been linked to incidents of violence and insecurity in the country. There have also been talks that the psychological wellbeing of all the governorship and presidential candidates and it has been suggested that those seeking public offices should be evaluated and a public report made of all of them to ensure they are drug-free.
She added that all these are genuine concerns given that the World Drug Report 2021 showed that in Nigeria, with 14.4%, the drug use prevalence is significantly higher than the global average.
“Globally, over 11 million people are estimated to inject drugs, half of whom are living with Hepatitis C. Opioids continue to account for the largest burden of disease attributed to drug use,” she said.
Chigbo appealed to journalists in the country to ensure that the message of drug abuse taken from this event “is heard in Africa and beyond”.
She also suggested that the psychological well-being of all the governorship and presidential candidates be evaluated since it has been suggested in some quarters that those seeking public offices should be evaluated and a public report made of all of them to ensure they are drug free.
“All these are genuine concerns given that the World Drug Report 2021, showed that in Nigeria with 14.4 per cent, the drug use prevalence is significantly higher than the global average. The report also highlighted the need to close the gap between perception and reality and educate the people and safeguard public health,” she added.
And for the chairperson of the Anniversary lecture, Elizabeth, Ngozi Ebi, the drug menace is a burning issue that requires urgent attention “not just for the economy but for the sustainability of mankind”. She noted that the current health situation of Nigerian youths is disheartening and worrisome, considering their engagement in hard drug abuses. According to her, they take hard drugs like Syrup, tramadol, Diazepam, cocaine, Shisha mix among others and the statistic is worrisome and has shown that the problem has reached an epidemic level in the country.
“The societies we live in are predominantly made up of unskilled young persons who indulge in drug abuse and cannot be regarded as healthy and a developed one, since the abusers lose their potentialities to this activity.
“Drug abuse has inflicted immeasurable harm on public health and safety in the country and Africa at large over the years, and threatens the peaceful development and smooth functioning of our societies.
“Today we will be looking at the implications of drug abuse on the Nigerian economy. There are numerous consequences of drug abuse, and it ranges from volume of untimely deaths such as suicides, road accidents, violent crimes, laziness, mediocrity and subsequent impoverishment. To this end, homes are broken, dreams are shattered, and potential manpower is wasted as drug abusers struggle to sustain the habits embedded in this subculture. They therefore become burdens to themselves, families, the society, and the country at large. “Unfortunately, young persons who are supposed to shoulder Nigeria’s future development in terms of socio-economic aspect are constant promoters of this sub-culture, and anti-social activity of drug abuse,” she said.
According to her robbery, burglary, rape, vandalism of public properties kidnap and arm bandits etc. are associated with drug abuse, the congestion of penitentiaries where the government spends more in the maintenance of prisoners, and the growing numbers of destitute, which our social welfare administration system cannot carter thereby depleting government’s budget.
The economic effect looks at the loss of potential manpower, low productivity, and creation of an unfavorable environment for investors which of course will affect the Gross National Income as well as the internally generated revenue.
And for some of the panelists and guests, it was an array of tributes. For instance, Martins Oloja, Managing Director and Editor-In-Chief of The Guardian Newspaper, recounted the lessons from the lecture and appealed to parents to appreciate the fact that we live in a different time and era and urged them to desist from bringing up their children the way they were brought up.
He attributed the successes recorded by Realnews to the fact that the publisher, Maureen Chigbo, has remained focused. According to him, the success of the 10th Anniversary lecture is not about the event, but about the deliverables.
“The best of the deliverables is focused on the family and that people should not be looking outside, thinking that the problem is external, that the problem is outside there, is somebody’s else’s problem, when it may be right in your home.
“Obviously, Realnews has improved because of the person behind the Realnews is an experienced person, who is also very organized and resourceful and because they structured the event to be more interactive.
Recounting the lessons from the lecture, Oloja said: “The fact that parents should no longer be bringing up their children the way that they were brought up, that parents need to understand the times like the children of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel ought to do. That is very important.”
Goddy Uwazurike, President of the Credibility Group, expressed delight and satisfaction with the theme of the anniversary lecture and the caliber of the guest speaker and the discussants.
“I am very happy I came. I have been missing these events and every year, I keep promising Maureen that I would be there. But this year, I said I should be there, and I am happy I am here. I like the quality.
“God will continue to bless you, the publisher, because it takes a strong willed person to do what you are doing. The money is not there, but you are soldiering on, and that is so important,” he said.
Charles Onyewuchi Anyiam-Osigwe, Chairman, Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Foundation, gave kudos to Realnews and said that he was happy to have attended this anniversary lecture and recalled that he had attended some of Realnews annual lectures.
According to him, the 10th anniversary lecture seems to be the best and urged Realnews to continue to keep up with its game in terms of the topics and the lecturers.
“It gets better from year to year. This year’s lecture is really, really interesting for me, the keynote speaker was very educative, informative, and he really x-rayed the challenges of drug menace in our country presently, and what they are doing about it.
“So far, so good, it is kudos. I am very proud of my sister, Maureen and what she is doing and when I am in town, I will try to attend.
Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye, Council member of the World Journalism Education Congress in USA, representing Africa, former chairman & HOD, Mass Communication, University of Lagos, thanked Realnews for always staying true to its goals and urged them to keep up the good work.
“I read Realnews every time. Realnews annual lecture has improved tremendously over the years in terms of the quality of the attendees and in terms of the content, pluralism and diversities on what it did last year.
“Also the quality of people you brought in, look at retired Brig-Gen, Buba Marwa, his presentation was excellent, look at the likes of Ray Ekpo, you brought in who is who in the media system for this occasion and I want to congratulate your organization.
“It’s a tremendous improvement and you are celebrating your 10th year, which is commendable. Congratulations and I wish you more good things to happen,” he said.
Duro Sandey, Group Managing Director, GMS Travels and Tours, expressed his excitement at the quality of speakers and the relevance of the topic of discussion and promised to keep a date with Realnews annual lectures.
“Realnews yearly lectures will continue to be to me a date to keep because they seem to go deep into the thoughts, they are clear in their conscience about what should come to the surface and steer up things for the betterment of the nation.
“I am excited about what they have been doing over the years, but this 10th year anniversary lecture is of particular interest because of the potential hazard of drug abuse, especially in an African nation like Nigeria, heavily exposed to Western ways, with a substantial middle class population, and yet a grossly large under privileged class.
“The economy might be one of the things we will need to focus on to be able to destroy this onslaught of drug abuse and companies like Realnews, and the way they craft their topics and bring well-meaning lecturers and thinkers to the fore, might be one of the ripple centres that will help to bring about the “awareness now”, but a commitment from the larger population to come up with solutions to these issues,” he said.
And for the elated staff and friends of Realnews, it was a memorable 10th Annual Lecture as they look forward to the 11th annual lecture in 2023.
KN
Tags: Gen. Buba Marwa Goddy Ikeh Martins Oloja Maureen Chigbo NDLEA Ray Ekpo
