10th May, 2018
Katsina State Government has commended the Federal Government for its recent ban on the local production and importation of codeine as a addictive cough syrup.
Gov. Aminu Masari made the commendation on Thursday in Daura during a one-day zonal roundtable workshop on the phenomenon of drug abuse in the state.
Masari was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Mustapha Inuwa.
He described drug abuse as one of the illicit practices engaged by the youth which ruined their future and send them to the early graves or subject them to mental retardation.
“ We need to put all hands on deck to curtail the menace,’’ he said.
He disclosed that the state government had trained and empowered 1,000 youths on various skills.
They include: ICT; poultry and fish production; vegetable oil extraction and tailoring, adding, “ we would recruit 5,000 youth as teachers under the newly-introduced S Power programme.
The governor called on lawmakers, traditional and religious leaders, parents and wealthy individuals, among other stakeholders, to partner with the state government in curtailing drug abuse, stressing that youth are the leaders of tomorrow.
He described the partnership between the Peace Builders Security Concepts, organisers of the workshop, and the state government in curbing the instances of youth restiveness and drug abuse, as appropriate.
“The Peace Builders Security Concepts remains a good partner for the initiative,’’ he said.
The Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouk, represented by the Turakin Daura, Alhaji Musa Abdurrahaman, lauded the state government for partnering with the NGO in the fight against drug abuse.
He described the workshop as timely, and assured of the unconditional support of the traditional and religious leaders in his domain toward the success of the initiative.
Malam Ibrahim Katsina, the Executive Director of the Peace Builders Security Concepts, called on the youth to shun practices that would destroy their future.
Katsina also called for the cooperation of the youth and parents in detecting and arresting drug dealers, consumers and the barons.
He said the NGO was collaborating with the NDLEA and other security agencies in checking drug abuse.
Zainab Salisu, a participant, said the workshop was timely, as according to her, drug abuse and addiction had generated different diseases in the addicts.
She said most cases of house burglary, rape and other criminal activities were usually committed under drug influence.