Stakeholders in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja have issued an advisory warning against drug abuse by youth, cautioning that young people who regularly use drugs are more likely to show a decline in IQ and school performance.
The stakeholders made the call at the weekend during a sensitization programme organised by a non -governmental organization, “Initiative Against Addiction and Substance Abuse in Nigeria (IAASAN) to enlighten FCT youths on the dangers of drugs.
The Country Director, IAASAN, Mrs Princess Raphael, while addressing newsmen at the programme tagged: ‘Say No To Drugs’, said frequent use of the drug can also impair a child’s attention, memory and decision-making.
Mrs Raphael said the level of drug abuse in the region was alarming and requires collective action by all stakeholders to tame it.
She said as an organization driven to curb the menace of substance and drug production, the Foundation would work with relevant stakeholders to totally eradicate drug abuse among youths.
“Our campaign against drug abuse intends to position youths in Nigeria especially in FCT as leaders with capacity to emulate the excellent leadership skills of our founding fathers.
“And we can only achieve this by collective efforts and free our youths from the dangers ahead.”
Also speaking, Mpape Gwari Chief, Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim, lamented that the nation’s future leaders are currently trapped by the menace of drug and substance abuse.
According to him, about 90 per cent of the youth population in the country are involved in one form of drug abuse or the other, stressing that creating the needed awareness will go a long way in curbing the trend.
