African leaders playing ostrich over drug abuse – ECOWAS Official
The Head of Drug Control and Civil Society of ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, Hajia Raimat Momodu on Wednesday accused African leaders and most especially Nigeria of playing the ostrich over the fight against drug abuse among the adults. Momodu specifically raised the alarm over what she called dangerous trend of drug abuse among youths and house […]
The Head of Drug Control and Civil Society of ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, Hajia Raimat Momodu on Wednesday accused African leaders and most especially Nigeria of playing the ostrich over the fight against drug abuse among the adults.
Momodu specifically raised the alarm over what she called dangerous trend of drug abuse among youths and house wives in Nigeria.
She spoke with journalists on the sidelines of ECOWAS Public Awareness Programme on Drug Prevention targeted at vulnerable groups in Ogun State.
According to her, the effects of drug abuse could hamper economic and productivity growth if not tackled headlong.
The ECOWAS official lamented that a number of African leaders have ratified many agreements to fight the menace, but they fail to implement them.
Momodu while calling on the media to hold leaders at all levels accountable on lack of implementation of agreements to fight the menace, demanded greater advocacy to stem the tide of drug abuse.
She said “To win the war, you have to be sincere with yourself. Right now, it appears we are in self-denial. We are playing the ostrich. We are pretending it’s not big problem. It is already a very big problem.
“All over Nigeria, we have youths, children, women and sometimes, adult who are abusing drugs.
“More women are taking drugs now, even the house wives. It’s rising. It’s a dangerous trends.
“In terms of the political commitment of our leaders, there are a lot of agreement they have signed into at national, AU and ECOWAS levels.
“The responsibility for us, especially those in the media is to hold them accountable to implement what they have signed to implement.”