PAC Sub – Committee On Elimination Of Drug Abuse Visits Anambra, Interacts With Stakeholders

A sub-committe of the newly-inaugurated Presidential Advisory Committee, PAC, on the Elimination of Drug Abuse in Nigeria, has visited Anambra State to discuss with concerned stakeholders the most effective methods towards curbing the scourge of drug abuse.

The six-member Sub-committe which oversees the South East Zone is headed by the Wife of the Governor of Imo State, Mrs. Nkechi Okorocha.

Present at the meeting, which was held at the Anambra State Government House, Awka, were representatives of the Nigeria Prisons Service, Nigerian Immigration Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, National Security and Civil Defence Corps, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board and Post Primary Schools Service Commission, among others.

Addressing the gathering, the Team Leader, Mrs. Okorocha, who was represented by Hajiya Wasilat Audu, said the Sub-committe was in Anambra State to gather information, and develop an appropriate model for eliminating drug abuse, especially at the grassroots.

Mrs. Okorocha who called for strict internal controls among drug manufacturers, noted that the challenge of drug abuse must be tackled collectively thus the need for the message to be taken to all community levels.

Earlier, the State Commandant of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Mr. Sule Momodu, said the agency has had great strides with Governor Willie Obiano in eliminating illicit drug peddling in Anambra State, and restated Agency’s resolve in championing the crusade.

The Permanent Secretary, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Pharmacist Emman Ude Akpeh, said the issue of drug abuse must be taken seriously, and advocated a change of approach towards it’s elimination.

The participating stakeholders also made contributions to the discussion, providing insights into their fights against the scourge and asked questions where necessary.

The Presidential Advisory Committee on the Elimination of Drug Abuse was setup in October 2018, with various sub-committees for each of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria, which work on the fields and collate results and report to the National Committee.