Luka Nizassan, Etsu of Kwali, Kwali area council of the Federal Capital Territory, says Nigeria’s future is at stake following the high rate of drug abuse among the youths.

Mr Nizassan expressed the concern in Abuja on Tuesday at a one-day conference.

The Al Masaareef Foundation organised the conference in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), targeting more than 500 secondary school students.

He pointed out that Nigeria was losing potential future leaders who were addicted to drug and substance abuse.

He said the prevalence of drug and substance abuse was alarming, not only among the youths but even adults, particularly parents. He said the key stimulant to insecurity in the country was drug abuse, adding that a lot of persons were making money out of it, “yet, it is destroying the fabrics of this nation.”

The ruler advised students to be among persons that would rise above drug abuse, responsible for 40 per cent of Nigeria’s problems, particularly insecurity.

Mr Nizassan said that insecurity had continued to stall development in the country because the problem of drug abuse, its key stimulant, had not been addressed.

According to him, stakeholders must stop paying lip service to drug abuse and be deliberate about addressing the menace.

“Until stakeholders wake up to their responsibilities, Nigeria will not be able to address the problem of drug abuse that is already affecting the future of children in the country,” said the Abuja ruler.

At the community level, Mr Nizassan said that community leaders have a role to play in changing the narrative through concerted advocacies against drug abuse.

“We will continue to speak to our people, speak to our women, to our children, and our religious leaders,” he said.

(NAN)