A high ranking operative of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA), Commandant Oleni Ezekiel and a traditional ruler, who doubles as the Onimesi of Imesi Ekiti, Oba Olatunji Olatunde, have canvassed concerted efforts by stakeholders to stop consumption and peddling of hard drugs among Ekiti youths.
The prominent Nigerians spoke on Saturday, during a Youth and Community Harmony Summit, organised by Imesi Ekiti, Ayekire Local Government Area and other critical stakeholders to attract development and progress to the community.
The programme recorded a resounding success with an attendance of over 700 participants comprising youths, Federation of Imesi Ekiti students’ Union, artisans, traditional chiefs and residents including Hausa, Gede and Tiv nationalities .
The Summit featured a series of insightful presentations by distinguished guest speakers addressing critical issues affecting youth development, security, drug abuse, community responsibility and infrastructure.
Condemning the surge in hard drug consumption and peddling among the youth population, the NDLEA Chief , said youth indulging in drug abuse stands the risk of mental ailment, grow high propensity for criminal activities and taking of illicit actions that could attract imprisonment and other capital punishments.
The NDLEA operative revealed that consumption of hard drugs like Cannabis (Indian hemp / marijuana, Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphetamine (Mkpuru mmiri), Tramadol (when abused beyond medical prescription), Codeine-based syrups (when misused) and Other synthetic and locally mixed substances, have been prohibited by the agency, to safeguard the lives of the citizens.
“The NDLEA is not just an enforcement agency—we are partners in prevention and rehabilitation. Imesi can benefit through: Drug Awareness Campaigns, Regular sensitization in schools and markets, Rehabilitation Support, Access to counseling and treatment for addicts, Intelligence Sharing, Training for Community Leaders, Identifying early warning signs of drug abuse, Collaboration with local vigilante groups.
“We encourage the community to establish a Drug-Free Committee that liaises directly with NDLEA”.
In his remarks, Oba Olatunde, who is a former commissioner for Works, said the programme was also targeted at reducing the incidences of vandalism, drug abuse, and security threats for its productive population to protect the future of the town.
The monarch promised that no effort will be spared to ensure that the productive youth population is supported to accomplish their objectives and set goals through proper counseling , role modeling concept and community engagement.
Oba Olatunde described the youth as the pivot of development in any nation, state and community, pledging total support for the youth to actualize their dreams, urging them to desist from drug abuse, banditry, insurgency, kidnapping, political thuggery and other criminal tendencies that could derail their future.
The monarch said the task to gainfully engage the youth as well as maintain internal security, where all stakeholders will be partakers is topnotch in the agenda of the town, which he said, fuelled the convocation of the summit.
Oba Olatunde promised that all the recommendations made at the summit will be implemented without delay, saying issues discussed were pressing community matters that will stoke unprecedented development, if fully applied.
It was a general consensus among Imesi Ekiti community and other stakeholders that the Summit was a major step towards fostering responsible youth engagement, peace, and sustainable development in the town.