Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd), has urged Nigerians to rise against the toxic pop culture that glamorises abuse of illicit substances as an acceptable lifestyle, especially among youths.
Marwa gave the charge yesterday in Abuja during the official commissioning of the agency’s radio station, Clean Beat 91.5FM.
He called on stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians to join the NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy campaign to save young people from the dangers of drug abuse.
Marwa warned that the consequences of failing to tackle substance abuse could be devastating.
“Substance abuse is a hydra-headed monster that fuels insecurity, destroys public health, cripples economic productivity, and compromises the future of our workforce,” he said. He, however, expressed optimism that the launch of the station represented a major step towards winning the war against drug abuse.
Marwa noted that the NDLEA’s mandate goes beyond arrests and prosecutions, stressing that education and prevention remain critical in addressing the menace of substance abuse.