The Drug-Free Arewa Movement (DFAM) has raised concern about the rising cases of drug trafficking and substance abuse in Northern Nigeria.
The lead convener of DFAM, Mr Ibrahim Yusuf, said in a statement that drug abuse was fast becoming fast destructive force eating deep into the fabric of the northern society
He added that the twin evil of drug trafficking and substance abuse “is a silent epidemic gradually exterminating the region’s future.”
Yusuf urged politicians, traditional rulers, religious institutions, lawmakers, civil society actors, and families to treat the fight against substance abuse as a national emergency.
“Drug abuse does not discriminate based on ethnicity, politics or religion… It is a monster that rides into the home, the school, the street and the place of worship,” Yusuf stressed.
“This menace has paralysed development and development opportunities, provided avenues for social vices, and mental health crises,” he warned.
“We are losing our youth — the greatest asset — to addiction, unemployment and hopelessness,” he said.
Yusuf emphasised that the organisation “is not limiting itself to advocacy alone but is actively working with communities, schools and religious institutions to implement evidence-based substance demand reduction strategies aimed at curbing the scourge.”
He called on the Northern States Governors’ Forum, the Northern Traditional Rulers Council to rise to the challenge and respond proactively to the crisis.
He also charged stakeholders to reintegrate out-of-school children, establish rehabilitation centres, adopt school-based drug prevention programmes, and create meaningful economic opportunities for the youth to keep them engaged and productive.
“Say no to drugs; it is a slow killer that steals your future and your peace. To those already addicted — you can quit. DFAM is here to help,” he added.
