Youths in Ikorodu West in partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and Nigeria Bar Association, Ikorodu branch on Saturday held a five-kilometre walk against drug abuse in Ikorodu.

Speaking shortly after the walk exercise, Chairman, Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area, Sulaiman Olanrewaju, advised youths to shun drug abuse, adding that such vices could hinder them from achieving their goals.

Youths in their hundreds carried placards with the inscription; “Be youthful and useful,’’ “Say no to drugs” and “The safe world is peace.” Others are “Life is too sweet, “No let drug abuse and cultism pick you up,” “The world is a better place if we make things right, “Do not endanger, just empower,’’ and “The safe word is peace, just speed it.”

Mr Olanrewaju pledged that his administration would continue to engage the youth through empowerment programmes.

“The essence of the road walk is to sensitise youths to drug abuse. What I will do now is real empowerment, where they will be provided with tools, machines and whatever is needed to be self-reliant,” he said.

Earlier, Chairman, National Youth Council, Lagos State chapter, Jubril Olalekan, urged youths to bring about the desired change to promote development in Nigeria.

Mr Olalekan said the road walk was organised to amplify the advocacy and walk against cultism, drug abuse, rape and other vices imminent among young people in Ikorodu and Lagos State.

“I want to believe that what we have done today is symbolic and resonates very well with young people and adults in the area. One of the ways that we can bring down cultism, hooliganism, gangsterism and drug abuse is through advocacy,” he said.

In his remarks, Vice Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association, Ikorodu branch, Olajide Abiodun, appealed to the government to integrate drugs and its effects into the education curriculum of primary schools.

According to Mr Abiodun, parents should properly nurture their children that hard drugs are dangerous to health, joining any form of cultism is dangerous to them and their future generation.

Similarly, the Convener of the walk, NYCN Ikorodu West LCDA, Taiwo Anuoluwapo said the walk which started from the palace of the traditional ruler of Ipakodo, Oba Bashir Sontowa, ended with a sensitisation initiative.

Mr Anuoluwapo appealed to the Federal Government to provide jobs and engage more youths in skill acquisition programmes.

“This walk is our third edition, this idea has reduced the rate of drug abuse up to 20 per cent, especially in the Ipakodo and Ogolonto area with high prevalence,” he said.

Present at the exercise were officers of the Nigeria Police Force and the NDLEA.

(NAN)