ACPN to Ganduje: Be Our Link between NASS, Govs’ Forum on Fight Against Drug Abuse
…..Urges other Govs to follow suit
Impressed by the unrelenting efforts of the governor of Kano State, Dr Abdulahi Umar Ganduje, in the fight against drug abuse, the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) urges him to be a bridge that would link them with the National Assembly and Nigeria’s Governors’ Forum, for strengthening institutions and redirecting concerted effort in the area.
Abba Anwar, Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, disclosed in a statement on Friday that, after the National President of the Association, Pharm. Samuel Adekola, visited the governor on a courtesy call his office, in Kano.
Pharm. Adekola, emphasized that, “Your Excellency, we are fully aware of your effort towards taking drastic measures against drug abuse in your state and the country in general.”
He, urges governor Ganduje to please play the role of a link person to the National Assembly and make effective of the review of the Act establishing National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), to be more effective and realistic in the fight against drug abuse.
“We are hoping to see that, NDLEA becomes a beacon of hope in this all-important area of drastic measure against the menace of drug abuse. Other strategies should be searched and adopted for a more result-oriented actions,” he added.
That, according to him, was amongst the reasons why efforts must be concerted, synergistically designed and maintained, insisting that “Governors should also come to realise the critical action they should take to further strengthen planned actions against the lingering menace.”
Mr Adekola urges governor Ganduje “…to please talk to your colleague governors under the auspices of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to lend more credence to this struggle.”
While thanking the governor for the warm reception accorded them, Pharm. Adekola, reveals that they were in Kano for a Conference on finding modalities and modern strategies in the fight against Drug Abuse.
“We hope other states will copy from you Your Excellency for taking a lead among all other states in this fight against drug abuse, especially among our youth. As Kano is strategic, that when it embarks on something, other states naturally follow,” he praises.
On his part, governor Ganduje commends the Association for gearing up and their display of all concern, commitment and genuine thinking towards evolving drastic measures for the all-worrying menace.
“We are receiving you very well, because you have come with an issue that is globally resonant and has gained well designed political agenda, to get rid of the menace at all cost. We are all aware how President Muhammadu Buhari gives extra consideration to the problem, by coming up with a Presidential Committee on Anti Drug Abuse,” Ganduje appreciates.
He further boasts that, when he came in as the governor of the state, in 2015, Kano was leading in the drug abuse amongst other states. “But with concerted efforts and clear understanding and support of all the stakeholders, our position back slides,” he said.
As a way of taking drastic measures against drug abuse, he said, his administration takes seriously, issues of education and health. While education is the main thrust behind elimination of all evils in the society, health sector, when seriously managed, would make room for the society to be healthy and more focused.
“To make our actions more effective against the menace, we put in place a Reformatory Centre at Kiru local government, that takes 250 inmates at a go. We have recently reformed some of our youth from there. Not only that, we train them on some skills and we give them some capitals to begin businesses when they are out from there. That would allow them to become self-sufficient,” Ganduje reveals.
While urging that, all hands must be on deck, he proposes for more attention to preventive measures at the expense of other measures, so that such abuse would be drastically reduced as needed.
Other great measure his administration takes, he reveals, “…is that we are now promoting drugs open market. As we are establishing a multi-billion Naira modern market in Kano, through Public Private Partnership (PPP), we are making special provision for the drug market to be as open as possible.”
“We didn’t stop at that, we also give space provision for all the agencies that fight against drug abuse, like NDLEA, NAFDAC, and others to come and have their offices established at the drug open market. This will go a long way in drastically reducing the menace,” he explain.
