Lagos First Lady Advocates United Front in Fight Against Drug Abuse

... Holds stakeholders meeting with drug related NGOs, religious groups, students, others 

Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Mrs. Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has emphasized the importance of a unified approach in combating drug abuse.

Speaking at a Stakeholders’ Meeting on Drug Abuse held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa, Lagos, she highlighted the necessity for all relevant stakeholders to collaborate effectively to achieve a comprehensive solution.

Dr. Sanwo-Olu underscored the role of her office in focusing on sensitization and advocacy to tackle the issue, just as she urged other stakeholders to clearly define their areas of focus and consistently work within their capacities to ensure a coordinated effort in the fight against drug abuse.  

She said "The issue of drug abuse can be tackled from different point of views. Through advocacy and sensitization, fund raising and rehabilitation, just to mention a few. All these components must be harnessed if a meaningful outcome would be achieved."

Dr. Sanwo-Olu who revealed that there is always a sign of drug abuse or abuse of drugs in almost every house, added that urgent steps must be taken to revert the ugly trend and restore sanity to every home and the society. 

She informed that the stakeholders engagement is planned to be a continuous exercise where the attendees can always provide feedbacks that can be built on for subsequent engagements. 

In her words: "My office is committed to ensuring that the system is challenged, this we do by bringing all relevant stakeholders together, and that is the reason why you’ve been invited here today. Our objective is targeted at ensuring that everyone works tirelessly towards eradicating this virus that has badly eaten deep into every community, street and family."

The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Pharm. Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu raised concerns over the increasing demand for rehabilitation services in the State. 

Speaking through Mrs. Rashidat Umar, a Director from the Ministry, at the Stakeholders’ Meeting, the Permanent Secretary lamented the alarming number of residents seeking help for their family members in rehabilitation centers.

She revealed that both government-owned and privately-operated rehabilitation centers are currently operating at full capacity, underscoring the escalating rate of drug abuse among Lagos residents. 

This surge in demand, according to her, highlights the urgent need for expanded resources and coordinated efforts to address the drug abuse crisis effectively.

The Permanent Secretary informed the participants at the stakeholders meeting and residents of the State to consider exploring the option of the Lagos MiND initiative where some mild cases of drug abuse can be easily attended to in some general hospitals or through phone calls. 

On his part, the State Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA Lagos State Command, Abubakar Liman Wali, decried the loopholes in the judicial system in apportioning appropriate sanctions and punishment to 

persons arrested for drug trafficking or drug abuse related offences. 

"I can tell you that we are doing our part by arresting individuals involved in drug abuse and handing them over to the judiciary. However, the fines imposed often fail to serve as a severe deterrent. These individuals can easily pay the hefty fines, which undermines the efforts to curb drug-related crimes." the NDLEA boss stated.