By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) Rivers State Command has called on Nigerians to support efforts aimed at the rehabilitating and combating stigmatization of drug users.
Mrs Stella Ngwoke, Area Commander, Port Harcourt Ports Command of the NDLEA, made the call in commemoration of the 2023 United Nations International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking held at Onne Seaport in Rivers State.
Ngwoke explained that the 2023 International Drug day with the theme “People First:Stop Stigma and Discrimination,Strengthen Prevention,” is apt as there is urgency for more awareness campaign.
She stated that the aim of the campaign is to combat stigma and discrimination against people who use drugs by promoting language and attitudes that are respectful and non-judgmental.
According to her, “The theme for this year’s commemoration is as topical as it is a humanitarian and it urges us to make the people the centrepiece of our drug control efforts.
“The misuse of psychoactive substances such as alcohol tobacco, cannabis, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, as well as prescription medications exact tremendous toll on the individuals, families, communities and societies has impacted negatively on public health,” she said.
Ngwoke stressed on the urgency of raising awareness about the importance of treating people who use drugs with respect and empathy, providing voluntary services for all, offering alternatives to punishment, prioritizing prevention and leading with compassion.
The NDLEA Area Commander Port Harcourt Ports Command noted with concerns the high level of prevalence rate of the use of illicit drugs in the South-South, which is at 16.6 percent, with 2,124,000 people within the age bracket of 15 to 64 years.
She also stated the prevalence situation in Rivers State as 15 percent of the state population, estimated at 580,000 people, which called for concern and concerted efforts from all to tackle.
Ngwoke mentioned that the NDLEA under the administration of Brig.Gen. Buba Mohammed Marwa(Rtd) has achieved major breakthroughs in the fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking in the country.
She also stated that Port Harcourt Port Command, Onne interdiction efforts had yielded a seizure of large drug shipment from Canada-Cannabis indica(Canadian loud),weighing 76.9kg.
According to Ngwoke, the Command had also moped up operations around the port corridor with the dislodged and seizure of 23.1kg of Cannabis sativa and arrested two suspects who have been charged to court.
Ngwoke acknowledged the tremendous synergy and cordial relationship that exists between the Agency, the Nigeria Customs Service, Department of State Security(DSS), Nigeria Port Authority, terminal operators, among others.
In her speech, the Keynote Speaker, Prof.Rosemary Ekechukwu, Director Counseling and Human Development Centre, University of Port Harcourt, urged the public to stop making critical statements to the drug abuse users.
Ekechukwu who spoke on the ‘Challenges of Stigmatization of People who use Drugs’, stated some of the challenges to stigmatization as strong desire to take the drug, difficulties in controlling its use, poverty and unemployment, decline of family values system, increase tolerance and physical withdrawal state, among others.
Ekechukwu advised agencies in control of illicit drugs trafficking and drug abuse to bring the drug traffickers to book and prosecute them to reduce the rate of influx of illicit drugs into the country.
In his speech at the event, the Deputy Comptroller of the Nigerian Custom Service Onne, Cmptr. Ojike Iheanacho, who represented the Area Comptroller of Area II Command Onne, Cmptr. Baba Imam, commended the NDLEA for its efforts in the fight against illicit drug trafficking and drug users.
The Comptroller stated that Nigeria customs will continue to uphold the Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) between the sister agency in combating against illicit drug trafficking in the country.
Our Correspondent reports that the dignitaries present at the occasion includes;,Cdre. Bobmanuel Effiong, the Commandant of the Nigerian Navy College Onne, represented by Lt.Cmdr.Jude Dibia.
Others are the DPO Remy Obirieze, the Deputy Police Officer Onne Seaport, the Managing Director(MD)of INTEL Nigeria Limited represented by Mr Giuseppe Anzeino, the Deputy Head of Risk Management INTELS, among others.
