The Executive Secretary of the National Association of Nigerian Drug Monitoring (NANDRUM) and Ambassador to the Joint Committee on Drugs and Narcotics of the National Assembly, Dr. Christabel Okoye, has urged parents to remain firm in caring for their children from an early age.
Dr. Okoye gave the advice while speaking in Abuja on the dangers of drug abuse and its consequences on Nigeria’s youth and national development.
She noted that despite over two decades of advocacy in collaboration with the National Assembly Committees on Drugs and Narcotics, the involvement of youths in drug abuse remains alarming, despite efforts by government and other stakeholders.
The campaigner against drug abuse also lamented that the menace has spread beyond tertiary institutions and secondary schools, reaching even some primary school pupils.
She expressed concern over what the trend might become in Nigeria in the coming years, considering the growing statistics of those involved.
The E S warned that drug abuse has serious negative effects on the lives of vulnerable youths in schools and communities.
Dr. Christabel further commended the National Assembly for its encouragement and support, noting that there are ongoing moves toward positive legislation on the importation of such harmful substances, with provisions for capital punishment.
She warned parents especially those in the habit of sending Young Children to study abroad, saying many of such children inhabit such badly behaviour from out side, urging them to be careful and good custodians to what God Almighty blessed them.
Dr christabel also cautioned teachers to continue to exhibit good behaviour while doing their primary function, arguing that it is not only teaching they are expected to do but also to behave as fathers and mothers believing that children are entrusted in to their hands by parents , hence the need to do what are required of them as custodian of such trust.
She further assured Nigerians that as ambassador of joint committees of drugs and narcotics of the National Assembly is coming up with a rehabilitation and detoxification centre of such Youth in an efforts to be useful members of the society.
Dr. Christabel appealed to Nigerian youths to resist negative influence from peers already deeply involved in such harmful behavior, urging them instead to remain focused and become useful to themselves and to society at large.
Cov Bashir M
