President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday 18 October 2019 received the report of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Elimination of Drugs Abuse (PACEDA) with a declaration that winning the war against drugs abuse is a critical element of the next level mandate.
He called on all well-meaning Nigerians and international partners to join hands with relevant government agencies in the fight against drug abuse.
The President made the call on Friday when he received the report from the committee led by Former Lagos State Military Administrator, Brig General Buba Marwa (rdt).
The president while noting that the enormity of the menace required the cooperation of all and sundry, stated that winning the war against drug abuse remained one of the critical elements of the Next Level mandate of his administration.
He renewed the commitment of government to the welfare of the citizenry by fighting the scourge of drug abuse.
Buhari said, “Winning the war becomes one of the critical elements of the Next Level mandate of this administration. As a government, we have the responsibility to ensure the security and wellbeing of our people
“Our findings have shown that it is more difficult to bring down crime rate to acceptable levels without clearing our country of substance abuse,”
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A statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina said the President thanked the committee for its timely and diligent prosecution of the assignment, even as he assured that the matter was of utmost importance,.
Buhari assured that the report would be studied along with the recommendations.
Chairman of the committee, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd) in his speech told the President that since the inauguration of the committee in December, 2018, it interfaced with a wide spectrum of stakeholders.
These included Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Non-Governmental organisations, Civil Society Organisations, Faith-based Organisations, professional bodies, international partners and members of drug user communities with their parents, teachers and care givers.
Gen Marwa added that the assignment, which took members to all the geopolitical zones of the country, confirmed the fears of President Buhari that Nigeria had a very strong drug problem that needed to be tackled as a national emergency.
He, emphasized that the key to tackling the menace is a formal launch of a War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) as part of declaration of a state of emergency on the menace as well as the establishment of a National Drug Control Commission.
Other members of the advisory committee included the wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Buhari and wife of the Vice-President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo among others.
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