ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has declared that his administration will leave no stone unturned in the fight against peddling of illicit drugs and substance abuse in the state.
Diri made the declaration during this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Yenagoa, the state capital, with the theme: ‘Share the Facts. Save Lives.’
The governor, represented by his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, said the state government had already set up the Bayelsa Drug Abuse Prevention and Rehabilitation Committee to tackle the trafficking of illegal drugs and drug abuse in the state.
A statement on Saturday by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor, Mr Doubara Atasi, quoted Diri as saying that drug abuse was not limited to only the youth, and therefore stressed the need for all stakeholders to collaborate in the efforts to fight against the menace.
Diri particularly called on the state Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to work closely with the state Drug Abuse Prevention and Rehabilitation Committee in terms of sharing facts about the social menace in order to save lives.
According to the governor, drug abuse is not peculiar to any particular age, race, religion or gender, noting that everyone is exposed to the dangers posed by the social malady in society.
He described drug and substance abuse as an enabler of crimes and criminality.
He, therefore, warned those perpetrating the act to desist from it in their best interest or face the wrath of the law.
Earlier, the Chairman, Bayelsa State Drug Abuse Prevention and Rehabilitation Committee, Dr Faith Izibenua described the 2021 World Day Against Drug Abuse as a call to action for all to share facts about drug abuse.
Izibenua, however, cautioned everyone to get the right information from the right sources to share, adding that the UN 2021 World Drug Report on Drug and Substance Abuse indicated that 200 million people were engaged in drug abuse worldwide.
Highlights of the celebrations included a road walk led by the governor from Imgbi junction in the Yenagoa metropolis to Peace Park.