By joshua 
Governor Sule calls for collaborative efforts against drug abuse
From Esther Akaa, Lafia
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has called on governors in the North Central Zone to work together towards addressing the challenges of drug abuse among citizens, especially females and youths in the country.
Governor Sule made the call on Wednesday while declaring open a 2- day Sensitisation Workshop on Narcotics Drugs Abuse and Prevention among Females and Youths in North Central Zone of the country in Lafia, the State capital.
The governor while noting the negative impact drug abuse has created on the society, stressed the need for state governors to work together with the House of Representative Committee on Narcotic drugs and other relevant agencies to eliminate drug use and abuse among Nigerian Youths.
He described the prevalence of drug abuse and trafficking among the female gender as unfortunate, saying that all hands must be on deck to end the menace.
The governor said it was unfortunate that women who are traditionally the conscience and moral compass and who play the crucial role in the upbringing and transmission of acceptable values and goals and aspirations of the younger generation were involved in drug abuse and trafficking.
” The establishment of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency by the Federal Government has continued to carry out advocacies, sensitisation and enlightenment campaigns on drug abuse and trafficking, its effects on youths who are considered as the most vulnerable group in the society is commendable.
” I, therefore challenge Governors from this zone to partner in ensuring that we find a way to stop the abuse of narcotic drugs among our youths and women in Nigeria,” he said.
The governor said that his administration was committed to changing the narratives of women by empowering and educating them by enhancing their capacities through education and skills acquisition programme growth and development of the state.
According to him, the State provided the legal frameworks to protect women’s physical, social , economic, emotional and psychological well-being through the enactment and implementation of the Violence Against Persons , Prohibition ( VAP) law to curtail some conditions which expose them to drug use , trafficking and other social vices in the society.
He commended the House of Representatives Committee on Narcotic Drugs for organising the workshop even as he urged participants to suggest effective ways towards addressing the challenges of drug abuse in the country.
In his remarks, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Narcotic Drugs, Hon Abass Adigun said the committee was poised to eradicating the menace of drug abuse across the country.
Adigun called on the governors and other stakeholders to collaborate and sensitise the citizens against drugs abuse as it constitutes a nuisance to the society.
He appreciated Governor Sule and his wife, Hajiya Silifat Sule for the support given to the committee and for accepting to host the workshop, saying it was first of its kind.
Speaking separately, the Emir of Azara , Dr Kabir Musa Ibrahim and the Chief of Nasarawa State, Justice Aisha Bashir Aliyu called on State governors to declare a state of emergency on drug abuse.
They also called on the governments to include drug abuse in the schools’ curriculum to enable the teaching and learning of the subject matter at formative age , even as they called on parents to prioritise the education of their children for a better society.
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Aisha Ibrahim and her counterpart from the Ministry of Health, Dr Gaza Gwamna said the ministries have sustained advocacies and sensitisation alongside relevant bodies including women groups and Nongovernmental Organisations (NGOs) on the need for citizens to stay off drug abuse and other social vices.
The duo said they would continue to sustain the campaign against drugs abuse for the well-being of the state.