As a part of efforts to curb drug abuse in the country, the National Association of Seadogs, aka Pyrates Confraternity in collaboration with the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, National Orientation Agency, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights and other relevant agencies have embarked on a public awareness march to campaign against drug abuse and homelessness in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
It was a march of calculated onslaught and a big statement against the destructive habit scourging the society, especially the drug abuse amongst the youths.
The National Association of Seadogs in pursuit of its National Initiative tagged “NAS Street Child Project” meant to show care for the underprivileged and out-of-school children to give them a sense of purpose as well as ensure the actualisation of the Association’s National Policy thrust, engaged other agencies of government to partner with them in the noble mission
The awareness walk took off from Kuto market, harbouring about five motor parks, through Oke Ilewo, Ibara, Omida, Igbeyin, and other major streets in the metropolis, terminating at Sapon, an area most notorious for the menace of drug abuse.
The train educated the public on the danger of drug abuse and its ripple effects from joblessness to deprivation, poverty to homelessness and mental illness.
The Association says engagement is part of the two key projects under the initiative it has embarked on in the past few weeks across the country and the globe, including the Back-to-School initiative, which focused on bringing succour to the underprivileged children.
The Capoon of Ash Montana Deck of Ogun State, Mr. Ganiyu Omitogun stressed that
every patriot should be concerned about the rate at which drug abuse is spreading in the country and destroying the socio-economic bases as the youths, where women and children have become most vulnerable.
He said, “The more the present NDLEA tracks and arrests the barons the more the illicit drugs get into the hands of the young ones who get destroyed with great impact on national security and productivity.
“We call on the families, schools, and other social agents to join hands in fighting against drug abuse. The schools particularly should get more creative in monitoring the pupils and students who are being lured into the habit towards nipping them in the bud.
“Parent should also engage their children to detect the habit at the early stage and they should be vocal and not shy about taking such victims to the experts at NDLEA or hospitals.”
The representative of NDLEA, Oluseyi Essien listed the achievements of the agency in recent times but warned that the habit was far from coming down yet.
Essien said, “We are collaborating with the Seadogs on this project as a partner in our mandate to fight against drug abuse. Their commitment to humanity and ensuring a drug-free youth population is noble.
“If more individuals and groups join hands in the fight the number of patients in the psychiatric hospital will reduce and insurgency will come down.
“It is drug abuse that aids insecurity, including the pursuit of spiritual money, armed robbery and banditry. Only a collective voice can stop drug abuse in our society.”
The Global March is a defining moment in the association’s season of actions where advocacy meets visibility and words become footsteps, reaffirming that NAS is more of a movement than a fraternity.
The theme of the campaign is “Say no to drug, say yes to life” with the brand of Louder Together.