Following its December roundtable, which was aimed at addressing the drug use epidemic across the country, the Senate, yesterday, passed a motion calling on the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Health to establish rehabilitation centres in each of the 36 states.
In a motion sponsored by Senator Jeremiah Useni and nine others, the Senate noted that with more rehabilitation centres in the country, addicts would be able to receive professional treatment in the short and long term, thereby, bringing down the rate of addiction and crime in the country.
“Drug addicts are seen everywhere on the streets,” said Senator Philip Gyunka, “I have the strong belief that if the rehabilitation centres are established there will be less crime in the society.”
Speaking on the motion, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, emphasised that drug abuse negatively affects the productivity of our youths, stating that there was a need to stop the distribution of drugs at both the wholesale and retail levels.
“This issue of drug abuse is a threat to youths’ productivity. There is the need to break the chain between the dealers and users as it is fostering crime in the country. Security agencies should curb the distribution of drugs,” Ekweremadu said.
Commending the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Senator Joshua Lidani, stated that the motion stemmed from the Senate roundtable organised in Kano last year, which shed light on how big an issue drug use is in the country.
The Senate further resolved to urge relevant stakeholders like the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to key into the proposed rehabilitation centres, while, mandating its committee on Secondary and Tertiary Health to ensure that the Federal Government gives the centres the needed attention when established.
