Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has inaugurated a committee to control the alarming rate of drug abuse in the state.

On Wednesday, Mr Tambuwal said controlling the circulation of illicit drugs and consumption was necessary given the increasing number of youths going into drugs in the state.

”More worrisome is the involvement of married and single women in substance abuse, which is a negative trend that cannot be tolerated by any responsible society,” the governor stated.

He attributed drug use to the major cause of rising insecurity, ill health and poverty in Nigeria.

The governor said the committee was established through collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes.

Mr Tambuwal commended retired Buba Marwa, the NDLEA Boss, for his relentless war against the drug cartels through daily arrests, seizures and convictions.

He expressed optimism that the efforts of the NDLEA would soon greatly minimise the problems of drugs ravaging the country.

The governor said the committee included members from security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, drug regulatory agencies, educationists, state and local government officials and non-governmental organisations.

He said the state would also set up relevant bodies that would strategically enhance the implementation of the National Drug Control Master Plan.

The committee’s term of reference includes identifying types of drugs commonly abused in the state, the supply source and taking measures to block access to all such drugs.

The committee, headed by the Commissioner for Health, Ali Inname, will advise the government on setting up War Against Drug Abuse clubs in all schools in the state and community drug-free clubs at ward levels.

The committee would further advise the government on resource mobilisation and public enlightenment campaigns on the dangers of drug abuse and trafficking.

It would also design parameters for establishing drug rehabilitation centres by the government and the private sector.

The committee, which has 30 members drawn from relevant organisations, has the state commandant of NDLEA, Adamu Iro, as secretary. 

(NAN)