NOA sensitises stakeholders on drug abuse, crimes

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Thursday sensitised stakeholders in Akwa Ibom State on the dangers and consequences of drug abuse as the root cause of criminalities in the country.

The Director-General NOA, Dr Garba Abari, in his remarks at a one-day sensitisation workshop for stakeholders said the experience has shown that drugs were often associated with virtually all anti-social behaviours bedevilling the country.

Abari, who was represented by the State Director of NOA, Mr Enoh Uyoh, said the period of yuletide was usually laced with increased activities that were not in tandem with core values that promote the corporate existence of the nation.

He said that incidences of drug abuse among the public, especially the youths have become a source of worry to the Nigerian state.

According to him, nearly all crimes were associated with the use of drugs and should be discouraged by all citizens.

The DG said in view of the decline in moral standards across the nation, there was a need to re-awaken the consciousness against such vices in other to nip the looming consequences in the bud.

“As an agency of government involved in community mobilisation in its programme implementation, experience has shown that drugs are often associated with virtually all anti-social behaviours bedevilling the country.

“It is the enabler and the trigger which people go into crimes and criminalities such as political thuggery, banditry, political and religious radicalism, kidnapping, violent extremism, armed robbery, vandalism and wanton destruction of government infrastructure,” Abari said.

The director-general urged parents not to lose sight of their responsibilities by paying adequate attention to their childhood upbringing.

He said all hands must be on deck to check drug abuse, stressing that clerics should instil moralities in their adherents.

He urged members of the public to be vigilant and report any suspicion of drug abuse to law enforcement agencies for prompt action. 

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the state director of NOA in Akwa Ibom, Mr Enoh Uyoh, urged stakeholders to treat drug abuse as a menace that has affected all facets of life.

Uyoh said that drug abuse has been the main cause of insecurity and youths’ restiveness in the country.

He appealed to stakeholders to take the workshop seriously and disseminate the outcome to their communities and the public.