The Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has sought the support of traditional rulers in tackling drug abuse and domestic violence.
Issa-Onilu made the call when he led personnel of NOA on a courtesy visit to the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Bamalli, in Zaria, Kaduna state.
The visit formed part of a week-long sensitisation campaign across Kaduna State, focusing on drug abuse and domestic violence, particularly among youths and other vulnerable groups.
The campaign, undertaken in collaboration with the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, began with street rallies in Kaduna.
Issa-Onilu said, “Drug abuse destroyed lives, weakened families, fuelled crime, and deprived young people of their future, while domestic violence inflicted physical and emotional harm.”
He described both issues as community challenges requiring collective action from parents, traditional and religious leaders, government institutions, civil society organisations and citizens.
The DG appealed to the Zazzau Emirate Council to help NOA reach young people, parents, schools, religious institutions, and communities with messages promoting prevention and responsible behavior.
He said traditional institutions could help strengthen awareness, encourage early intervention, promote counselling and rehabilitation, protect victims, and ensure perpetrators faced the law.
Issa-Onilu said, “The Speaker had deployed constituency resources to address drug abuse and domestic violence through public sensitisation and community engagement.”
He said the agency was providing its expertise, network, and structures to support the initiative and ensure meaningful outcomes for communities.
The Emir of Zazzau, Malam Ahmed Bamalli, described drug abuse as a menace adversely affecting society and called for decisive action against the problem.
Bamalli said some locations around Zaria had become redistribution points for illicit drugs transported from different parts of Nigeria to satellite towns and other areas.
He expressed concern over what he described as weaknesses in the justice system, particularly where suspects were arrested but later secured bail without effective prosecution.
The Emir urged parents and community leaders to take responsibility when their children or members of their communities were involved in selling or consuming illegal drugs.
He also appealed to the judiciary to address cases involving drug offences, expressing concern over what he described as inadequate punishment, particularly for offenders from wealthy backgrounds.
Bamalli said, “Nigerians travelling abroad should respect the laws and regulations of destination countries rather than assuming practices accepted in Nigeria would be tolerated elsewhere.”
He also commended NOA for educating Nigerians on the proper use and handling of the national flag.
Earlier, Mohammed Ahmed, Chairman of Zaria Local Government, described drug abuse and domestic violence as serious challenges affecting society, particularly young people.
Ahmed said the sensitisation campaign would contribute to improving security, peace and the health of youths across the local government area.
The NOA delegation later visited a rehabilitation center in Zaria as part of activities aimed at strengthening public awareness and responses to substance abuse.
The Commander, Kaduna State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Maijama’a Muhammad, also addressed the delegation during the visit to the rehabilitation center.
He restated the agency’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with relevant stakeholders in preventing drug abuse, rehabilitating affected persons and promoting a drug-free society.
Credit: von.gov.ng
