By Michael Oche
The National Association of Seadogs (NAS) has called for more collaborative work to create awareness on the menace of drug abuse.
The Association, also known as the Pyrates Confraternity, stated this at a one day sensitisation campaign held in conjunction with the Koyenum Immalah Foundation to mark the 2023 International Day against Drug Abuse
Speaking at the event which held at the Mpape Chief Palace in Mpape Community of the FCT, Mr Emeka Ukatu, Vice chairman NAS , Zuma Deck noted that there is need to sensitize the youth on the side effects of drug abuse.
He said tackling the manace of drug abuse requires a lot of effort, noting that the Association has decided to begin with educating those that are likely to be influenced.
“Drug abuse is a driver when it comes to crime,” Ukatu stated, adding that there is need to sustain the campaign to end drug abuse.
He said the advocacy is also targeted at drawing the attention of policymakers on how they can take actions to stop the menace of drug abuse.
He said “We took it on ourselves that we should go into the surbub in Abuja to educate them. Because we found out thay the poverty level in the country is encouraging people to go into drugs. and also lack of positive social support network has been affecting young ones into taking drugs as a way of survival.”
Ukatu noted that there is a lot of misconception about what the Pyrates Confraternity stands for, explaining that it was founded on the basis of supporting the downtrodden and ensuring that “we have a just and egalitarian society where the common man has a say in how they are ruled and also ask questions when things are going wrong.”
He said to achieve their objectives, the NAS partners with likeminded individuals, organizations and traditional leaders in effort to get rid of societal ills.
Also speaking, Nduka Augustine, a Supritendend of Narcotics at the NDLEA FCT command, emphasized on the need for collaboration with other social partners in the fight against drug abuse.
The NDLEA under the chairmanship of Gen. Buba Marwan (rtd) know the importance of stakeholders collaboration in the war against substance abuse and addiction.
He said there is need to sustain awareness on prevention, noting that many people go into drugs without knowing the dangers.
“Prevention is key. When people are enlightened and they know the dangers. That’s one of the messages we are spreading on the International Day against Drug Abuse,” he said.
He said a society that allows its population to get addicted to drugs, will not have young people who are productive.
Augustine said the NDLEA is working hard to tackle to the menace of drug abuse, not noted that the peddlers are not relenting.
He said, “But the chairman and the leadership of the NDLEA are committed to ensuring that drug use is reduced to the barest minimum. The arrest figure are getting high.”
Earlier, a medical doctor, Dr Obinna Ukweni, described the menace of drug abuse as a “tsunami”
He said poverty is a main driver of drug abuse, adding that if government doesn’t put in place policies to alleviate poverty, the menace of substance abuse might still remain high.
He called for government to make rehabilitation centres free for abusers and also provide source of livelihood for those who have been rehabilitated.
