In a bid to address the rising concern of drug abuse, the Ogun State Government has pledged its support to the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The Commissioner for Community Development and Cooperatives, Balogun Ademola, made this commitment during a meeting with NDLEA officials at his office in Abeokuta.
Ademola assured that the ministry would actively engage Community Development Associations, cooperatives, traders, and artisans’ associations in the fight against drug abuse. He emphasized the need for intensive sensitization across the state to eradicate drug-related issues.
“I am declaring the readiness of this ministry to partner with NDLEA by taking the campaign against abuse across the state through the involvement of the Community Development Association, Cooperative Association, and Trade and Artisan Association,” stated Ademola.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Fatai Ogunlana, commended NDLEA for choosing to collaborate in the campaign against drug abuse. He highlighted the agency’s engagement with various associations, considering it a crucial step in achieving significant results.
During the meeting, CN Ibiba Odili, Commander of Narcotics at NDLEA Ogun State Command, expressed the aim of collaborating with the ministry to extend the campaign against drug abuse to rural areas. She emphasized the evolving nature of drug abuse, noting that recent findings indicated a significant increase in women using hard drugs.
Odili revealed that in 2023 alone, over 400 individuals had been apprehended and prosecuted, and more than 41 tonnes of cannabis were seized in the fight against drug abuse.
As a gesture of appreciation, the NDLEA commander decorated the Commissioner as the Campaign Ambassador for Stop Drug Abuse in Ogun State, solidifying the partnership between the government and law enforcement in addressing this critical issue.
