North Central Nigeria Unites Against Drug Abuse Among Women and Girls

A recent two-day workshop in Nigeria’s North Central region brought together stakeholders to tackle the growing issue of drug abuse among women and girls.

The event, themed “Community Participation, Critical Stakeholders Support and House of Representatives Committee on Narcotic Drugs as Essential Partners in the Fight Against Drug Peddling, Use and Abuse,” emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing this critical issue.

Senior NDLEA and police officers presented alarming statistics, revealing that 90% of criminal activities are committed under the influence of drug abuse.

They urged stakeholders to work together to combat this problem. Dr. Ibrahim Baba and Mrs. Jerusha Daniel Chamang also stressed the need for community and security agency partnerships to invoke legal punishment on drug peddlers and address the mental health impacts of drug abuse on women.

State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Aisha Rufai Ibrahim, and consultant Oluyemi Olaiya praised the workshop’s timeliness, given the high rate of drug abuse among youths.

They thanked the House Committee on Narcotic Drugs and the state government for organizing the event.

Key Takeaways from the Workshop:

Community Participation: Encouraging community involvement in preventing drug abuse
Stakeholder Collaboration: Fostering partnerships between security agencies, governments, and organizations
Legal Action: Advocating for stricter laws against drug peddling and abuse
Mental Health Support: Addressing the psychological impacts of drug abuse on women and girls

Participants expressed gratitude for the knowledge gained and pledged to share it with their communities, marking a positive step towards combating drug abuse in the region.