By Adegboyega Segun
The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo, has charged Kogites to take ownership of the fight against drug abuse, saying the war against criminality would be a mirage if drug abuse is not conquered.
The Information Commissioner made the call when he paid a working visit to the Kogi State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in furtherance of the Kogi State Government’s determination to support the NDLEA in delivering on its mandate.
In his remarks, Hon. Fanwo emphasized Government’s commitment to fighting drug abuse which, he said, is the root of criminalities.
He said: “The determination of the Kogi State Government under the leadership of His Excellency Alh. Yahaya Bello to rid the state of crimes and criminality can only be helped if young people across the state understand the fact that drugs destroy and they won’t understand until we take the message to them and spark community action against drug abuse.
“It is the mandate of our Ministry to cause a revolutionary mass mobilization against illicit drugs and provoke the people to destroy drug abuse before drug abuse destroys the people. I can assure you that Governor is committed to this must-win fight”, he said.
He commended the NDLEA for the good jobs they are doing despite all the challenges, hoping that his visit would set the good path to synergize with the agency.
In his response, the Commander of Narcotics, Abdullahi Fakai stated that Hon. Kingsley Fanwo is the first Commissioner to visit the command since his assumption of duty in Lokoja, calling on community leaders to educate their people on the dangers of drug abuse and not leave the responsibilities to the NDLEA and government alone.
He said, “Let me seize this opportunity to thank the Executive Governor of the State for being very supportive to us here in our fight against illicit drugs. The Governor has never stopped showing us he is the war leader”, he affirmed.
The Commander of Narcotics further stated that the NDLEA makes arrests, investigates and goes to court to prosecute cases, appealing to the Ministry of Information to help in sensitizing the people against drug abuse adding that chronic drug users that desire to stop the habit can also report voluntarily for rehabilitation.
Commander Fakai admonished parents to fulfill their social responsibilities by training their children to desist from drugs, adding that, kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery are carried out under the influence of drugs.
He pledged to synergize with the Ministry through the print and electronic media to educate and sensitize the people against drug abuse, appreciating the Hon. Commissioner for the visit.
