The Roost Foundation, an Non- Govermental Organisation (NGO) says it is building the capacity of relevant stakeholders to enlist others in the fight against drug trafficking, abuse and human trafficking.
The Founder and Executive Chairperson of the foundation, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, said this at a two-day workshop on Outreach on Drug Trafficking/Abuse and Human Trafficking Awareness Campaign in Abuja.
She recalled that the foundation carried out a survey and discovered that Mpape Community was an endemic area in the Federal Capital Territory where outreach awareness campaign team would visit tomorrow (Wednesday).
Okah-Donli is also the Chairman, Board of Trustees, United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons.
“This training programme is timely and is not meant to only enlist you into this movement against drug trafficking and abuse but it is an invitation to enlarge your capacity to enlist others into this fight.
“Please, do not hoard the knowledge and experiences you garner from here, but spread it as a trainer to others.
“Seek and seize every opportunity to spread the information about this act of man’s inhumanity to man.
He expressed the hope that the workshop would enable the foundation to mobilise and sustain partnership for effective combat on drug trafficking/abuse and other related crimes like human trafficking in every part of Nigeria and beyond,” she said.
Dr Ngozi Maduekwe, the Director, Drug Demand Reduction, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), said that the agency was working to cut off the availability of drugs in the country.
Maduekwe said that this had been achieved through intelligence by ensuring that drug traffickers were arrested and prosecuted.
“And then we seize their drugs and get them destroyed. That is cutting off the availability of drugs.
Maduekwe said alsothe agency also carried out awareness campaigns on drug abuse, educated youths and children who had not involved in any drug, against the menace.
“For those who are involved, we counsel them on the need to go for treatment. We always offer them counselling and give them care support to get out of drug addiction,” she said.
In her remarks, Ebelechukwu Enedah, the Country Coordinator, AGA-Africa, an NGO, said drug trafficking thrived by deploying defenceless human beings being forced or lured into becoming drug mules.
According to her, typically, young people from unstable backgrounds and those in dire straits become easy prey for drug traffickers.
“Indeed, a good number of them are also
forced into the dehumanising work of prostitution.
“The tragedy is many who face arrest are, in fact, victims who are also battling addiction.
“Nigeria, like many other African countries, serves as a major transit point for drugs like cannabis, cocaine, Amphetamines, and tramadol.
“Compounding the problem is that cannabis is widely cultivated in Nigeria,
making it available in large quantities,” Enedah said.
She expressed optimism that the workshop would equip drug law enforcement agents, social/welfare officers and human rights activists to combat the menace of drug trafficking and abuse in the country.
The representatives from the office of the Attorney General, NDLEA, NAFDAC, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, participated in the workshop.
Others are from the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Immigration Service , Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Customs Service and NGOs. (NAN)
