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Speaker 1: National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLA has called on the

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general public to avoid helping anyone to carry a bag

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or bags he or she knows nothing about items packaged

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inside the bags while traveling, because ndl EA operatives will

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not fail to arrest such a person if items of

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substance abuse are found in the bags, like a case

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of a man whose video was posted on the personal

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ex social media handle of the spokesperson of the NDLA

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on Sunday morning, with the person arrested in the video

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saying he doesn’t know the items inside the bag he

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was helping someone to travel with. NDLA Director of Media

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and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, who shared a video with a

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message via his x account on Sunday, said please listen

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to the suspect in this video. He was asked if

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he packed the bag he was carrying and he said no,

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someone gave it to him. As we always warn never

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except to carry a luggage you don’t know its contents

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if you’re not not complicit and an accessory because ndl

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EA will get you. Meanwhile, Nigeria President bolah Armed Tanubu

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has said that the fight against illicit drugs must be

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a national movement and commend the Chief Executive Officer of

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NDL EA, retired Brigadier General Mohammed Babamawa NDLA personnel on

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globally acclaimed successes, just as the agency announced that it

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had secured sixty six thousand and eighty five arrests, eleven

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point one million kilograms drugs seized, twelve thousand, two hundred

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and one convicted, twenty six thousand, three hundred and ninety

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three rehabilitated in fifty three months, Femi Babafemi, in a

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news release issued on Thursday, President Bolah Ahmed Tanubu has

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declared that the fight against the scourge of substance abuse

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and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria must be embraced by

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all as a national movement rather than one for governments alone.

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The President stated this in his keynote address the grand

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finale of a week long program to commemorate the twenty

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twenty five World Drug Day held at the Presidential Villa

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Conference Center, Aboujah on Thursday, the twenty sixth of June

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twenty twenty five. Let us also be clear this fight

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is not one for governments alone. It must be a

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national movement driven by families, faith leaders, civil society organizations,

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youth groups, community leaders, businesses, and crucially, people with lived experience.

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Their voices matter, their stories inspire, their leadership is essential.

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At the same time, we must not ignore the deeper

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roots of this crisis. Drug abuse is tied to poverty, inequality,

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violence and conflict. To effectively tackle this problem, our approach

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must be comprehensive. We must foster peace, we must promote

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inclusive development, and we must uphold human rights every step

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of the way. The President, who was represented by Secretary

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to the Government of the Federation SGF, Senator Georgia Coombe,

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declared he assured Nigeria stands firmly with the global community

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in the effort to tame the scourge of drug abuse

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and its consequences. According to him, we are committed to

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working hand in hand with all nations to end this

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menace and tame illicit trafficking of substances. Together, we can

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dismantle the systems that sustain this crisis. Together, we can

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build a future where prevention is strong, treatment is accessible,

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and recovery is not just possible, but celebrated. There is

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no doubt that in the past two years, this has

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been the focus of the renewed Hope agenda of our administration,

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breaking the burden of poverty, uplifting millions out of squalor,

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and caring for the needs of the masses, especially our

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youth population through student Loans Scheme and other empowerment initiatives.

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While commending the great efforts of the NDL EA, its

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person and the leadership headed by Brigadier General Mohammad Babah

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Mahwa retired for the globally acclaimed successes not only in

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the area of drug supply reduction, but equally in drug

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demand reduction through aggressive nationwide sensitization aimed at prevention, treatment,

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rehabilitation and reintegration of treated drug uses back into their

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families and the society, President Tanubu noted that the efforts

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have not only attracted commendations from international partners and Western nations,

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but more support and collaboration with Nigeria in the global

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effort to curb the scourge of substance abuse and illicit

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drug trafficking. In his welcome remark of the occasion, Chairman

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Chief Executive Officer of NDLA, Brigadier General Mohammad Baba Mahwah retired,

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stated that there is no better time than now for

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the country to take drug use prevention seriously. According to him,

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the reality around us is a strong indication a wake

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up call for us, his parents, god, guardians and governments

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to step up preventive measures for our nation. Prevention is

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particularly critical as we are already grappling with a serious challenge.

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Seven years ago, we came to the stark realization that

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Nigeria had one of the highest drug abuse prevalence rates

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in the world. Today, with a population exceeding two hundred

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and thirty million, it is both urgent and pragmatic to

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prevent new individuals from being drawn into the population of

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drug uses. As parents, guardians, and leaders, we must be

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more vigilant and recognize that the issue of drug abuse

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is not distant, it is close to home. We must

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acknowledge that children are especially vulnerable and we should not

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dismiss experimentation with illicit drugs as behavior limited to a

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particular demographic. He said. The NDLA has continued to strengthen

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prevention strategies while being ferocious in its drug supply reduction activities,

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adding that addressing the socioeconomic driver of drug abuse is

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also crucial as a prevention strategy. The Renewed Hope Agenda

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of the President Bola Ahmed Tenubu administration is providing leverage

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to tackle such critical factors as poverty and unemployment. Initiatives

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like any lf und which offers student loans and programs

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like the three Million Technical Talent three MTT which improve

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technical skills required for digital economy employability, along with improved

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national security, will reduce the factors that increase the likelihood

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of drug abuse. In the final analysis, however, much responsibility

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rests on parenting, so we should be looking at how

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to empower those invested with the role of parenting. Through

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our War Against Drug Abuse WADER advocacy campaign, we work

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with parents, teachers, and leaders in communities, institutions, and associations

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to spread awareness and teach how to safeguard younger generations.

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Our Family Support advocacy emphasizes that children don’t just need money,

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they need the presence and voice of their parents and guardians.

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Parents must ask questions, dig deeper and instill values. Teachers

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also play a crucial role. They are deeply influential in

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shaping character and instilling values during the school years. The

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National curriculum now includes topics on drug abuse and teachers

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are in a prime position to guide and protect young minds.

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Our advocacy efforts under the WADA campaign continue to gain momentum.

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Every week across Nigeria. Our thirty six state commands with

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the FCT and fourteen zonal commands engage in WADA outreach,

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raising awareness in schools, offices, religious centers, communities, motor parks

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and markets. We educate the public about the dangers of

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drug abuse and how to escape its grip. In recent years,

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many non governmental organizations have joined NDLA in partnership to

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broaden the reach of wider advocacy. As a result, we

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have organized eleven one hundred and twenty three sensitization programs

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in schools, workplaces, worship centers, markets, motor parks and communities,

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while millions have been reached through our various robust weekly

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media engagements. This is in addition to thousands more who

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have benefited from the psychosocial support services provided through our

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twenty four to seven call center on our toll free

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helpline eight one, two, three four oh. At the same time,

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we have ramped up treatment and rehabilitation efforts with thirty

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centres currently active, where we have in the past fifty

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three months canceled and rehabilitated twenty six thousand, three hundred

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ninety three persons. Thanks to the support of Mister President,

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seven new rehabilitation centres have now been approved and will

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be developed under the current years budget that will broaden

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access to treatment. He noted that prevention efforts will amount

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to little if access to illicit drugs remains open and easy.

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Put Simply, while we work strategically to prevent individuals from

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initiating drug use, we must simultaneously shut down the pipeline

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through which these harmful substances are distributed. We must remove

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traffickers from the equation. This is a task we have

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continued to pursue diligently, deploying every resource at our disposal.

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Over the past four and a half years, we have

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arrested sixty six thousand and eighty five offenders, including ninety

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four identified drug barons. Our Operation Offensive Action has yielded

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tangible results, including the seizure of eleven million, one hundred

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and forty three thousand, seven hundred and seventeen point four

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four kilograms assorted illicit drugs with life sentences now being

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secured in court, while a total of twelve thousand, two

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hundred and one offenders have bagged the various jail terms

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within the same time frame. He expressed gratitude to the

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individuals and institutions that have shown determination and resolve in

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helping to stem the tide of drug abuse in Nigeria.

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We deeply appreciate the unwavering support of His Excellency, President

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Bolahamed Tenubu. His administration has provided the ndl EA with

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robust backing. We are also grateful to the National Assembly,

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particularly the chairmen and members of the Senate and House

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of Representatives Committees on Drugs and Narcotics, who have been

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steadfast allies of the agency. Similarly, the Nigeria Governor’s Spouse’s

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Forum and the Mountain Nigeria Foundation have proven to be

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valued partners in progress. To the UNO, d c I,

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n L, d UK, Border Force, NCA and the governments

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of the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and France, thank

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you for your continued and meaningful support. In his remark,

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Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince

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Leti Phagbemi San said drug abuse is not just a

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public health crisis, but a threat to national security, social stability,

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and economic development. Drug abuse and trafficking force organized crime

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undermines the rule of law and destroys the hope and

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future of our young people, our most precious national assets.

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Ladies and gentlemen. The evidence is indeed clear that investing

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in prevention of illicit drug cultivation and trafficking works, he said.

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Prevention effort must be integrated into our educational system, health

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care services, and criminal justice programs. The federal government is

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committed to tackling the drug problem and has put in

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place several drug control frameworks and instruments, including action plans

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and strategies, with the overall aim to significantly reduce the

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prevalence of production, trafficking, sales, and u use of illicit

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drugs and its attendant social, economic and health implications. Also speaking,

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Senate President Senator God’s Will Actpabio, who was represented by

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the Chairman Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, Senator Ibrahim

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dan Quambo, said the fight against the drug scourge is

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not a war of convenience. It is a war of necessity.

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Every life lost to addiction is not just a tragedy

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it is a failure of our collective will. Every young

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Nigerian drawn into this ABYSS is a call to arms.

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Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,

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Sheikus Mantore, said, prevention, treatment and recovery must not be

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seen luxuries, their life saving investments. Together, we can break

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the vicious cycle of drug abuse, organized crime and marginalization.

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And together we can build a safer, healthier and more

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hopeful Nigeria. He added, as one medal printin upreneeds in

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a mortgage soware