The Presidential Advisory Committee on the Elimination of Drug Abuse, PACEDA headed Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retired), has recommended the declaration of a national emergency on the fast growing abuse of drugs in Nigeria.
The panel also recommended the launch of a War against Drug Abuse (WADA) programme as well as the establishment of a National Drug Control Commission as part of declaration of a state of emergency on the menace of drug abuse.
The report of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Elimination of Drug Abuse, PACEDA, was presented to President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja in Friday.
President Buhari who received the report reiterated the commitment of government to the welfare of the citizenry by fighting the scourge of drug abuse.
A statement signed by his special adviser on media and publicity Femi Adesina, says the President realises the enormity of the menace, solicited the cooperation of all and sundry.
He called on all well-meaning Nigerians and international partners to join hands with relevant government agencies in the fight against drug abuse.
While thanking the committee for its timely and diligent prosecution of the assignment, the President assured that the matter was of utmost importance, and the report would be studied along with the recommendations.
Earlier, Chairman of the committee, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd) told the President that since the committee was inaugurated in December, 2018, it interfaced with a wide spectrum of stakeholders including Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Non-Governmental organisations, Civil Society Organisations, Faith-based Organisations, professional bodies, international partners and members of drug user communities with their parents, teachers and care givers.
He added that the assignment, which took members to all the geopolitical zones of the country, confirmed the fears of President Buhari that Nigeria had a very strong drug problem that needed to be tackled as a national emergency.
