The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ogun State Command has sought the support of the State Ministry of Information and Strategy, to curb the increasing cases of drug abuse.

          The Commander of the Agency in Ogun State, Mrs. Ibiba Jane Odilli, stated this when she led a special team, on a courtesy visit to the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Waheed Odusile and the management staff of the Ministry at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

          Odilli said the Ministry was a key stakeholder that had the capacity to effectively promote its sensitisation campaign against drug abuse through a strategic media approach.

          She revealed that about 14.3million Nigerians were abusing narcotic substances, with women having an alarming involvement, adding that the Southwestern part of the country in spite of its educational pedestal had high drug prevalence.

          The NDLEA boss noted that the prevalence of abuse of narcotic substances, which induces sleep and alter behavioural mood with the use of both conventional and non-conventional substances such as; Tramadol, Methamphetamine or glue, kerosene, lizard dug, among others, had destroyed lives and destinies of thousands of youths, who ignorantly indulge in it.

          "There is a need for a collaborative effort to support the Command's sensitisation campaign tagged: War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), to salvage the situation and stem the tides of the menace", Odilli stated.

          Responding, Alhaji Odusile appreciated the Command for the visit and lauded its remarkable achievements recorded in the fight against drug abuse in the State.

          The Commissioner, who also decried the high prevalence of drug abuse, particularly among women folks, attributed the cause to poor parenting and societal negligence due to modernism which had set many youths at liberty to indulge in criminality and abuse of the narcotic substance.

          He assured the Command of the present administration's readiness to activate all available media tools and platforms within the Ministry's reach to sensitise the youth on the danger inherent in the abuse of substances.

           Highlight of the visit was the decoration of the Commissioner as an Ambassador of War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) and a reciprocal presentation of publications between the two agencies, to kick-start collaboration against drug abuse.