The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has allayed fears over the increasing rate of drug abuse among youths in the country. He cited data from the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, revealing that 14.4 percent of Nigerians aged 15 to 64 abuse drugs, a figure significantly higher than the global average of 5.6 percent.
Obi attributed the rise in drug abuse to leadership failure, poverty, high unemployment, and peer pressure among youths. He emphasized the need for consistent action to combat this issue on the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Obi acknowledged the efforts of the National Drug
Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in tackling drug abuse but stressed the
necessity for further government intervention to rescue the country's youth
from the grip of addiction.
He highlighted the severe health consequences associated with drug abuse, including mental health disorders and increased incidents of suicidal behavior among young people.
Obi urged society to refrain from stigmatizing those struggling with addiction and emphasized the importance of preventive measures to curb the spread of this societal problem.
Furthermore, Obi expressed his belief that a
prosperous future for Nigeria depends on the well-being and productivity of its
youth. He called for concerted efforts to eradicate drug abuse and illicit
trafficking, ensuring that the younger generation remains free from such
destructive behaviors.