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NDLEA, PRIMORG Take Advocacy Against Drugs To FCT Public Schools.
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, and the Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development, PRIMORG, have warned youths, especially students, to ‘stay away’ from illicit drugs and psychotropic substances.
The warning is in continuation of PRIMORG’s recently flagged off Drug Demand Reduction campaign tagged “Safe Without Drugs (SWiD) Initiative” at Government Secondary School, Apo, FCT – Abuja, on Friday, 23 February 2024.
In his remark, the NDLEA Chairman, Brig Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), lamented the devastating consequences of early drug abuse, which includes mental illness, academic failure and societal disorder, while commending PRIMORG for the initiative.
He noted that the sensitization against drug abuse in schools cannot be over-emphasized, given the magnitude of the drug problem in the country. One of the significant difficulties Nigerians who abuse drugs are facing is that treatment for substance use disorder is not readily available and is very expensive.
Staff Officer Sensitisation, Drug Demand and Reduction Directorate NHQs Abuja Superintendent of Narcotics Owonubi Gbenga represented Marwa.
NDLEA, however, sensitized the senior secondary students on “understanding the concept of drug abuse or drug misuse; the magnitude of the drug problem in our society; and the signs, symptoms of drug effects and coping skills.
Owonubi also introduced the Safe Without Drugs Initiative/ War Against Drug Abuse (SWiD/WADA) club to the students and management of the school as an avenue to continue the advocacy against drug abuse among students.
Representative of FCT Secondary School Board, Haj. Hadiza Mohammed commended PRIMORG for the SWiD Initiative while joining calls for students to shun drug abuse outrightly.
Mohammed assured that the campaign against drug abuse is something the government will not stop and is serious about advocating against drug use and enlightening the students about it.
Warning the students against abusing drugs, Mohammed said, “Drug abuse starts with an addiction, and addiction is a monster. It will destroy you, tear you apart and later laugh at you, making you useless to society. It will put your psychological being at stake and endanger your parents in terms of rehabilitating you as a drug abuse victim”.
She encouraged the students not to keep quiet but to speak up when they see drug abusers, stressing the need to spread the campaign against drug consumption to neighbourhoods, friends and even to parents and guardians.
Earlier, PRIMORG’s Programme Manager, Dr Adaobi Obiabunmuo, hailed the partnership between the NDLEA, FCT Secondary School Board and the management of Government Secondary School, Apo, FCT.
Obiabunmuo, while joining others to urge students to stay away from drug abuse completely. She disclosed that the SWiD Initiative targets students, primarily the senior secondary in a bid to teach them the negative impact of illicit use of drugs and better shape their future.
Other speakers during the programme warned the students against getting close to drugs as it will truncate their future ambitions and goals.
It will be recalled that PRIMORG launched the SWiD Initiative about a fortnight ago at Excellent Kiddies Academy, Bwari, Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The advocacy possesses a wide range of programmes and activities meant to address the multifaceted problems of drug abuse in Nigeria.
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Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support
Joel Ajayi
Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.
More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.
The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.
Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.
The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.
Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.
Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.
Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.
Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.
The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.
Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.
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