In a decisive move to combat the growing menace of illicit substance abuse and thuggery in Kano State, North-West Nigeria, Governor Abba Yusuf has signed two executive orders aimed at curbing the trafficking, sale, and abuse of illegal drugs as well as political thuggery.
At the signing ceremony held at the Government House in Kano, the governor said the Executive Order on the Public Safety Emergency on Substance Abuse prohibits the sale and distribution of illicit drugs, as well as unregistered pharmaceutical products without valid prescriptions.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Drug Agency, NDLEA has ranked Kano State as the second highest in Nigeria for drug abuse and the illicit use of controlled substances, which has been identified by security agencies as major a driver of crime and insecurity.
The new executive orders therefore place stricter controls on the movement and distribution of contraband substances, particularly across identified hotspots in Kano and criminalises all acts of thuggery.
A multi-agency task force to enforce the Executive Orders has been immediately inaugurated by the Governor, with the immediate past Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, as chairman.
Rimingado assured residents that the task force would carry out its assignment with professionalism, transparency, and fairness, but would not look the other way if anyone is caught violating the executive orders.
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(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
