Delta State Rolls Out “Drug-Free Delta” Campaign to Secure a Healthier Future for Children
By Emmanuel Enebeli
ASABA/Nigeria: The Delta State Government is set to embark on a comprehensive “Drug-Free Delta” campaign aimed at reducing the prevalence of illicit drugs, particularly among school-aged children across the state. This initiative was revealed by Dr. Latimore Oghenesivbe, Director-General of the Directorate of State Orientation Bureau and Communication, during a press briefing held in Asaba on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
The campaign, which to be conducted in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), will be officially inaugurated by Governor Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori on Monday, February 3, 2025, at a ceremony scheduled to take place at the Unity Hall of the Government House in Asaba. It is slated to run until February 15, encompassing various schools in selected local government areas identified as high-risk zones for drug abuse.
Dr. Oghenesivbe urged the media to actively support the campaign actively, emphasizing the alarming spread of drug use among minors in the state. He underscored Governor Oborevwori’s deep concern over the escalating cases of drug abuse among pupils and students, which prompted his approval of the initiative.
Highlighting the campaign’s inclusive approach, Dr. Oghenesivbe stressed the involvement of communities and local leadership in achieving effective eradication of illicit drugs across Delta State.
Also present at the press briefing was Commandant Abubakar Wada, State Commandant of the NDLEA, who lamented the widespread use of illicit drugs among Nigerian youths. He expressed confidence in the agency’s efforts to restrict drug access while acknowledging significant achievements in arrests and convictions throughout 2024.
He explained that the use of hard drugs is associated with all forms of criminality such as armed robbery, rape, ritual killings, kidnapping, avoidable accidents among others, charging all stakeholders to take the fight against the use of illicit drugs seriously to ensure a lasting solution.
He lamented that the channels of supply of illicit drugs such as codeine and tramadol into the state poses a huge problem, analyzing that if the consumers do not have access to such drugs, they would not buy them.
He said NDLEA is deploying different strategies as counselling services, tracking and blocking of sources of supply and drug integrity tests to tackle the problems of hard drugs in the state.
In his words, “The NDLEA has arrested 854 suspects, seized over 595.3301 KG bags of hard drugs, 613.683 litres of drugs in liquid form, destroyed one hectare of cannabis farmland, successfully organized 70 sensitization programmes, has 604 addicts on counselling, 9 addicts on rehabilitation, 266 convictions among others.”
Mrs. Tracy Ikolomi, State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), voiced concerns over the alarming rate of minor involvement in illicit drug use, urging collective societal action to address the issue.
The “Drug-Free Delta” campaign targets substances such as tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, heroin, cocaine, and other psychoactive substances. It features compelling slogans on printed flyers, including “No Body Ever Plans to Become A Drug Addict, Nobody is Happy to Be One,” and “Drug Abuse Will Ruin You.”
This initiative underscores Delta State’s commitment to combatting drug abuse and promoting a healthier environment for its youth.
