The wife of the Kano State Governor, Prof. Hafsat Ganduje, has flagged off a campaign against drug abuse and inaugurated female drug ambassadors to end drug abuse in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme is funded by the Office of the wife of the Governor, through the Ministry of Women Affairs, in collaboration with the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA).
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Kano on Monday, Prof. Gaduje said the campaign was to take decisions and implement right solutions to end drug abuse.
Prof. Ganduje commended the state governor for the opportunity and ensuring that anything on health matters is paramount.
“It is vital we must be educated on Islamic and Western education. Mothers must extend love, care and parental guide to the young ones to understand life.
She called on the wives of the 44 local government chairmen, 40 wives of the members house of Representatives as well as wives of the Commissioners in the state to join hands together to fight against drug abuse.
“Everyone should go back to their various local government and hold a similar campaign. Work hand in hand with our Councillors to ensure that drug abuse is reduced to zero.”
In her speech, the Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr Zahra’u Muhammad Umar, said the purpose of the campaign is to curtail the increasing challenges of drug abuse among women.
“The first lady has been named as the ambassador of anti-drugs abuse in the state”
She commended Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and his wife for sponsoring the campaign which is the first of its kind.
Muhammad-Umar urged the wives of the 44 local government chairmen, who were inaugurated as anti-drugs ambassadors, to reciprocate the gesture and deliver the task diligently.
In her remarks, the Special Advicer to the State Governor on Health, Dr Fauziyya Buba, said drug abuse in the state and Nigeria has been a major problem which needs to be addressed.
Buba further explained that the administration of Governor Ganduje has recorded a remarkable success in the fight against drug abuse through media and local stations.
On his part, the NDLEA Kano State Commandant, Mr Isa Likita-Muhammad, said the position of drug abuse in the state has reduced drastically (from 1st to 7th) with the support of the state government and other stakeholders.
“In 2017 and 2018, 3 million bottles of codeine were consumed in Kano and Jigawa States”.
Likita-Muhammad said the campaign was to pass a message to the wives of the 44 local government chairmen, as well as wives of the members of the House of Representatives and Senators on the fight against drug abuse.
Also speaking, Hakimin Dala, Alhaji Abdullahi Lamido-Sanusi, who represented the Emir of Kano, Karaye, Bichi, and Rano, urged the state government to enact a law ensuring that intending couples to be tested for drugs.
“When it comes to marriage, in addition to HIV test, drug test should also be mandatory.”
(NAN)
