President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed his wife, Aisha, as a member of the presidential advisory committee on the elimination of drug abuse.
Vanguard reports that the members of the presidential advisory committee which was inaugurated on Monday, December 10, also include the wife of the vice-president, Dolapo Osinbajo, representatives of governors’ wives forum (north and south), Nigeria custom service, NAFDAC, NDLEA, police and others.
The committee has the former military administration of Lagos, Brig Gen Buba Marwa, retired, as its chairman.
Buhari during the inauguration of the committee at the presidential villa described drug abuse as a major public health problem in the country.
He called for a collective action to help those enslaved by drugs build a new life. The president stated that the challenges posed by drugs in the country had created an emergency situation that needs to be addressed.
“Drug and alcohol abuse are also major occupational hazards among Nigerian workers, professionals, notably drivers, which contribute to making Nigerian roads particularly dangerous,” Buhari said.
“The drugs that are commonly abused include but not limited to alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine, Tramadol, codeine, etc.
“Today marks the beginning of another milestone in correcting the root cause of some of the ills of today’s society in order to safeguard our common existence and guarantee a brighter future for our current generation and those yet on born.
“The role is specifically targeted at decimating the disastrous havoc that drug abuse could cause on the very fabric of our society.’’
He said the concerted efforts of the wives of the president and the vice-president as well as the chairpersons of the north and south governors’ wives forum prompted their qappointments as members of the committee.
“Additionally, the participation of the First Ladies is meant to spur further involvement of women and mothers in particular, in view of the significant role they play in parenting and care.
“It is therefore expected that Governors’ Wives across the federation will take the lead in replicating this intervention structure at the states and local government levels,’’ he added.
At the occasion, the president also inaugurated the ministerial steering committee which is headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha.
Meanwhile, the wife of the president, Aisha Buhari, on Thursday, December 6, said the society should not criminalise those addicted to hard drugs. She made the remark at the official flag-off of Youth Against Drug Abuse (YADA) campaign in Kano state, organised by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in collaboration with Young Pharmacists Group(YPG) at the Government House Kano, NAN reports.
Aisha said rather than isolating and discriminating, the society should look beyond the problem and begin to look at the main cause of the problem and address it for a lasting solution.
Vanguard
