Former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, has urged the Federal Government to punish drug traffickers severely, News About Nigeria reports.
He made this call in a statement on his verified X handle on Wednesday, while commemorating the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
Obi noted that the government needs to step up its fight against drug abuse in the country, adding that economic hardship and unemployment have fueled drug addiction, particularly among young people in Nigeria.
According to him, without urgent action, Nigeria could witness an increase in drug users.
“For a predominantly youthful population, Nigeria, where poverty and unemployment are on the increase, the incidence of drug abuse remains high. Economic hardship and other poor socio-economic factors have been identified as the leading factors fueling drug abuse among our youth.
“A report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) states that Nigeria and some African countries will witness a 40 per cent rise in the population of drug users, especially the youth population if urgent measures are not taken.”
“The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) reports that about 14.3 million Nigerians aged 15-64 years, abuse drugs.
“The National Bureau of Statistics reports a 14.4 per cent drug prevalence in Nigeria, which is twice the global average of 5.8 per cent.”
“Drugs and substance abuse have contributed to high rates of crime, moral decadence in society, and other associated health hazards. It also greatly dampens the productivity of people, especially the youth population.
“We must, therefore, seek to save our nation from the menace of drug abuse and illicit trafficking. More efforts must be channelled into preventing the spread of this virus,” he stated.
He, therefore, urged the government to invest in the rehabilitation of those struggling with drug addiction and introduce stricter punishment for drug traffickers.
