By Ebuka Onyekwelu, Ph.D
The Anambra State Government has teamed up with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to intensify the fight against drug abuse and its associated criminal activities across the state under the Solution War Against Drug Abuse (SWADA) initiative.
The partnership was sealed on Wednesday during a visit by top government officials and youth stakeholders to the NDLEA Anambra State Commander, Charles Onubogu, at his office in Awka.
The delegation included the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike; Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr. Law Mefor; Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Reformation, Dr. Nelson Omenugha; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Dr. Ebuka Onyekwelu; and media and youth stakeholder, Mr. Chijioke Igwendu, among others.
Speaking during the visit, Onubogu said the NDLEA Command was focusing on dismantling the supply chain of hard drugs, particularly by targeting producers and manufacturers.
He explained that cutting off the source of illicit drugs would significantly reduce their availability to users on the streets.
The NDLEA commander also stressed the direct relationship between hard drug abuse and criminality, underscoring the need for a sustained and coordinated response.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, identified drug abuse as a major contributor to mental health challenges, reaffirming the state government’s determination to tackle the menace.
He cited progress recorded in psychiatric hospitals across the state and expressed confidence that the partnership with the NDLEA would yield positive results.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr. Law Mefor, said the collaboration would help address the disturbing rise in drug abuse and strengthen public awareness of its dangers.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Reformation, Dr. Nelson Omenugha, said the initiative aligned with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s youth reformation agenda.
He also proposed extending the anti-drug campaign to correctional facilities across the state to ensure that inmates were not left out of the intervention.
The partnership is expected to strengthen joint efforts by the state government and the NDLEA to curb drug abuse, address its links to criminality and promote healthier communities across Anambra.
Tags: Anambra, NDLEA, Drug Abuse
