Nigerians who abuse drugs cannot exhibit prudent electoral choices
By Zion Rufus
Owing to growing concerns on drug abuse amongst youths in Africa and its implications on the Nigerian economy as well as the coming elections, Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.Gen. Buba Marwa has averred that Nigerian youths who abuse drugs cannot exhibit prudent electoral choices or execute the civic duty of voting.
According to Marwa who spoke at the 10th anniversary lecture of Realnews at the Sheraton Hotel in Lagos, with so many idle hands around, most of which are hooked on drugs, the 2023 elections will be a testing period.
Marwa said: “With such a huge youth population, you can’t begin to think that election in the country will be won by a youth referendum; with so many youths involved with drug use, they can hardly make the strong impact that people envisage, just as they cannot hold down a job.”
“What you’ll end up having is the phenomenon of self disenfranchisement among young people because those who are into drug abuse will readily make themselves available as tools for irrational activities such as electoral thuggery and violence.”
The issue of drug abuse has become a public health menace in Nigeria. In 2021, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) shared the National Drug Use Survey which revealed that in Nigeria at that time, there were around 14.3 million drug users of which close to 3 million suffered from a drug use disorder. Furthermore, a third of these population seemed to be regular users with a need for drug counselling.
Led by Brig.Gen. Buba Marwa, other dignitaries present at the 10th anniversary lecture include Ray Ekpu, former chief executive, Newswatch communications Limited; Professor Ralph Akinfeleye; Otunba Lanre Ipinmisho, former DG and member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Eradication of Drug Abuse (PACEDA); Dr. Dokun Adedeji, DG, Christ Against Drug Abuse Ministry (CADAM); and Dr. Nkemamolam Ndionuka, Consultant psychiatrist and medical doctor, Tranquil and Quest Behavioral Health amongst others.
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