Edo Authorities has known as for collective motion in opposition to drug abuse and trafficking within the state, with a renewed give attention to public training, prevention, and neighborhood rehabilitation.
Mr Andrew Oghenovo, Senior Particular Assistant to Gov. Monday Okpebholo on Medicine and Illicit Trafficking Management, made the decision on Wednesday throughout an anti-drug abuse rally in Benin.
The rally featured participation from NDLEA personnel, different safety companies, college students of the College of Benin, and civil society teams.
The marketing campaign, which kicked off from the King’s Sq. on the standard Ring Highway, handed via the Edo Home of Meeting, Oba Market, and terminated on the Benin Central Motor Park within the Obakhavbaye space within the metropolis.
Addressing commuters, merchants and passersby in the course of the rally, Oghenovo mentioned the state authorities had invested within the prevention of drug abuse as a part of its strategic response to the rising menace.
“The governor has promised that he’s going to construct a rehabilitation centre the place anyone affected can search assist.
“The centre will deal with them and educate them work — tailoring, barbering, something in any respect,” he mentioned.
The Okpebholo’s aide careworn the state’s dedication to reintegration and skill-building for affected people.
“We’ll prepare you, set you up, make you turn out to be helpful to society and your loved ones,” he mentioned.
On the Edo Home of Meeting, NDLEA Edo Commander, Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, mentioned the rally was to commemorate the 2025 Worldwide Day Towards Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Ofoyeju reiterated the significance of prevention, in step with the yr’s international theme: “The Proof is Clear: Spend money on Prevention.”
“We’re drumming up help to again up this theme, which lends credence to the truth that the struggle in opposition to medicine isn’t solely via enforcement, arrest, seizure, and prosecution.
“But it surely may also be via public enlightenment and campaigns to teach individuals in regards to the ills inherent in drug trafficking and abuse,” he mentioned.
He asserted that drug management was on the centre of crime management and likewise a key pet undertaking of Gov. Okpebholo, which needed to do with kidnapping and cultism.
“I assured the lawmakers that I’m going to sanitise and dislodge these hoodlums at Ihama Highway.
“We’ve got already taken two; I directed they need to be prosecuted, and we’re going to proceed via fixed raid operations,” he mentioned.
Responding to the marketing campaign, the speaker of the state Home of Meeting, Blessing Agbebaku, pledged legislative help for the anti-drug efforts and condemned the rising presence of open drug dens within the state capital.
“I need to commend you for the rally to sensitise the general public in regards to the results and hazards of medication.
“Of a fact, we have to be part of you and the company as a result of we signify each constituency,” the speaker mentioned.
He revealed that the Home had already handed a legislation in opposition to drug abuse, stressing, “Medicine can condemn anyone.”
The speaker, nonetheless, raised the alarm over the drug commerce round Ihama Highway close to the legislative quarters, describing it as “an eyesore” and “the den of medication in Edo State.
“Whilst a member of the Home, in case you are driving, they are going to be calling to promote the medicine to you.
“After taking the medicine, you will note them sleeping on the ground like useless individuals. I need to enchantment to you, please see how one can assist us sanitise that space and others.”
He additional alleged complicity amongst some safety personnel.
“Let me additionally let that a lot of the safety males additionally go there to purchase,” he mentioned.
The submit Edo Govt calls for collective action against drug abuse, trafficking appeared first on Vanguard News.
