Abisola Progress
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Ekiti State has organised a one day sensitization programme to enlighten the people of the State and the public against the use and abuse of drugs.
At the event held at the Palace of the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, the Ekiti State Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs. Olawumi Famuyiwa enjoined the participants to contribute their own quota in addressing the hydra-headed security challenges facing the nation, identify the causative agents and proffer the way forward.
Focusing on the theme: ‘ National security, Political thuggery, Kidnapping, Drug abuse, Radicalization and Violent Extremists’,the NOA boss decried the current state of insecurity in the country, noting it’s attendant effects on the economy.
Famuyiwa expressed worries over the rate of kidnapping, political thuggery, radicalization, drug addiction and violent extremism in the country. She called on the need for Nigerians to restore the tradition of friendship, brotherliness and sense of loyalty and love for one another which were the weapons the country’s founding fathers adopted to wrestle power from the colonial masters.
In a paper,titled, ‘National Security and Sensitization, the State Commandant, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr John Fayemi cautioned parents, families and the general public to avoid gambling sites both on online and offline, not to disclose sensitive information about themselves on the social media or internet such as ATM numbers, National identity numbers and personal PIN numbers.
Mr. Fayemi, the Ekiti NSCDC boss also counselled the people of Ekiti State to ensure they disabled the location features on their smart phones. Also, they should refrain from posting pictures of family members and details about assets on online platforms.
He advised Ekiti residents to know that when their security dogs are killed or poisoned, it’s often a sign of an emergent threats, adding that the people should ensure that the identities of house – helps are traceable before they are employed to work at homes.
The NSCDC further admonished parents to be conscious of how much they reveal their private matters to their house helps.
He identified some threats to insecurity in the Country to include the economic disparity, challenging business environments, influx of undocumented persons into the state and the country which usually pave way for human trafficking and sexual abuse of both underage and teenagers, the uncontrolled activities of minders, scavengers of disposable domestic items known as ‘iron condemn’, guards, house helps, gatemen, cooks and laundry servicemen to mention but a few.
The security chief condemned the attitude of the members of the public who are aiding and abetting the activities of cyber crimes and fraudsters such as yahoo-boys whose main location of trade and activities in Ekiti State include Ado Ekiti metropolis, Ikere Ekiti and Efon LGA’s.
He listed the accomplices areas for fraud in the state capital of Ado Ekiti to include the Atikankan, Odo-Ado, Okela as well as Moferere environments.
The representative of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ekiti State Command, Mr. Musa Balogun defined drug abuse” as any substance when taking excessively or wrongly is inimical to the body thereby affecting the functions of the body from functioning well such as mood changes, mood alterations and the modulation of the behaviours of the user.”
He further described drug abuse as an item or a substance used when not medically necessary to do so or when not prescribed or recommended by a doctor or a medical personnel to be used, pointing out that a drug becomes abused when it is not socially acceptable and when it is used in excess.
The NDLEA boss identified the signs of drug abuse to include bringing out of an unpleasant odour, colouring of the eye, poor result from work place and school, irrational mode of dressing as well as lateness to school.
Mr Balogun also pinpointed the reasons people are involved in drug abuse to include peer pressure group, lack of confidence, social pathologies, parental influence and adolescent behaviour.
He also advised the people to avoid the effects of drug abuse which includes loss of job, family disintegration, explexpulsionsion from school, criminal offences, stealing, rape, armed robbery, assassination / murder as well as premature death.
Others consequences of drug abuse he spelt out are brain damage, liver damage, hypertension, excessive/chronic bleeding, damage to unborn baby, damage to respiratory organs, sleeplessness, depression, craving desire and
withdrawal symptoms.
Giving his own remarks, the Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, The Onisan of Isan Ekiti, Oba Gabriel Ayodele Adejuwon expressed his readiness and assurance to take the campaign to the Traditional Rulers in their Traditional Council’s meeting to enable the other Kabiyesis replicate same sensitization in their domains.
He expressed worries over the society of today which has so much been destabilized because of the wrong family set-ups in place, urging the people and the stakeholders not to relent in their efforts to continue to expose the ills of the society.
Present at the event were the Federal Fire Service, the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Vigilantes Association of Nigeria, the General Manager of the Nigerian Television Authority, Ado Ekiti, Mr. Segun Osinowo; the General Manager, Radio Nigeria Ado Ekiti, Mr. Dokun Ladele as well as the representative of the Nigeria Union of Teachers.
Others included the representatives of the Iyalojas, Iyalajes, Babalojas and Babalajes in Ekiti State.