By Abimbola Joseph
CITIZENS COMPASS – Youths in Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos State, yesterday, staged a five-kilometre walk against drug abuse in Ikorodu.
The Walk was in partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Ikorodu branch.
Speaking shortly after the exercise, Mr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the council chairman, advised youths to shun drug abuse, adding that such vices could hinder them from achieving their goals.
The Citizen Compass reports that the youths in their hundreds, with some, carried placards with various inscriptions like,”Be youthful and useful”, “Say No to drugs”, “The safe world is peace”.
Others were “Life is too sweet, “No let drug abuse and cultism pick you up, ” “The world is a better place if we make things right, “Do not endanger, just empower, “The safe word is peace, just speed it”.
The council chairman pledged that his administration would continue to engage the youths through empowerment programmes.
“The essence of the road walk is to sensitise youths to drug abuse.
“What I will do now is real empowerment, where they will be provided with tools, machines and whatever is needed to be self-reliant,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Jubril Olalekan, Chairman, National Youth Council (NYCN) Lagos State Chapter, urged youths to bring about the desired change in order to promote the development in Nigeria.
Olalekan said the road walk was organised to amplify the advocacy and walk against cultism, drug abuse, rape and other vices that are imminent among young people in Ikorodu and Lagos State.
“I want to believe that what we have done today is symbolic and resonates very well with young people and adults in the area.
“One of the ways that we can bring down cultism, hooliganism, gangsterism and drug abuse is through advocacy,” he said.
In his remarks, Mr Kayode Johnson, Managing Director, private rehabilitation centre in Igbo-Olomu, appealed to the government to integrate drugs and its effects into the education curriculum of primary schools.
He urged for increased sensitisation and advocacy in all schools from primary to tertiary on the effect of drugs and how it affects the health system.
Similarly, the Convener of the walk, Mr Taiwo Anuoluwapo, NYCN Ikorodu West LCDA, said the walk which started from the palace of traditional ruler of Ipakodo, Oba Bashir Sontowa culminated with sensitisation.
He appealed to the Federal Government to provide jobs and engage more youths in skill acquisition programmes.
“This walk is our third edition. This idea has reduced the rate of drug abuse up to 20 per cent, especially in the Ipakodo and Ogolonto area with high prevalence,” he said.
