President Bola Tinubu has pledged more support for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in its fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

The president made the pledge at the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, otherwise known as World Drug Day, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Mr Tinubu urged everyone to support the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative launched by NDLEA three years ago.

“I commend and urge everyone to redouble their efforts to combat drug abuse and trafficking in the country. On this score, I wish to reassure you of this administration’s support. The ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ places the youth at the centre of its focus.

“Therefore, we ensure that our young people are protected from anything that could derail their future or destroy their potential,” he said.

He noted that illicit drugs and substances had wreaked havoc on individuals, families, communities and countries worldwide.

Mr Tinubu said, “In the face of such a formidable challenge, prevention is the most potent weapon that we can deploy. Prevention not only saves lives; it also saves resources that would otherwise be spent on treatment and rehabilitation.

“It empowers individuals to make informed choices, promotes healthy lifestyles and creates resilient communities capable of withstanding the pressures of drug abuse. Investing in prevention is not merely a moral imperative, a prudent way of safeguarding our future.”

The president added, “By allocating resources towards evidence-based prevention programmes, we can break the vicious cycle of drug abuse and protect our youth from falling prey to the menace.”

He explained that the assignment “before us as a country requires” prioritising evidence-based prevention strategies, allocating adequate resources and fostering partnerships for greater impact.

“This government will support NDLEA to build on the success recorded in the past few years. We shall work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that we have positive statistics from the next national drug use survey that will be conducted in the country,” Mr Tinubu stressed.

He urged all Nigerians to join hands in this noble cause, saying it is an assignment for all patriotic citizens, including religious leaders, traditional leaders, educational institutions, opinion leaders, and civil society organisations.

“NDLEA has created a formidable platform for cooperation vis-à-vis its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy initiative,” he said. 

(NAN)