The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has stated that it would partner with Re-Orientation Advocacy of Nigeria and other stakeholders to enhance prevention programmes on drug abuse and treatment.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, this was made known by the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, at a partnership meeting with RAN, on Thursday in Abuja.
The ministry noted that the partnership would specifically target people with drug use disorders.
Pate, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ms. Kachollom Daju, declared the Ministry’s preparedness to play a major role in curbing the issue of drug abuse.
He stressed that this would be targeted among the youth, women and adolescents in the country, in accordance with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He noted that many have bemoaned the spate of drug and substance abuse among youth and women in the northern and southern parts of Nigeria.
He said that RAN’s involvement on the issue was timely and sacrosanct.
Lauding the efforts of relevant government and non-governmental organisations working on addressing the issues, Pate affirmed that all hands must be on deck to bring the situation under control.
RAN Executive Director, Mr Charles Folayam, appreciated the ministry for its support to stakeholders’ engagement on drug prevention, treatment, and care held in December 2023.
Folayan also thanked the ministry for its representation in the Joint Task Team constituted at the programme adding that drug and substance abuse has influenced youth and women to take to armed robbery, vandalism, sexual assault, insurgency, banditry, domestic abuse and violence, HIV and AIDS, and accidents, among others.
He said their deepest concern was that no country could make any significant progress or development with over 40 per cent of its young population, including women, engaged in drug abuse.
He said this was twice the global average of 5.3 per cent.
He pointed out that the RAN partnership with various stakeholders was aimed at a common purpose and allow an easy flow of work in line with each organisation’s mandate and in conformity.
Folayan stated that this was on the heels of the strategic objectives of the National Drug Control Master Plan 2021–2025 and the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Act.
NAN reported that also at the meeting was the President and Founder of the Annmom Foundation of the United States of America, Princess Ann Ehigiator.
