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Drug war: Arewa youths back Marwa, seek partnership with NDLEA
By Nicholas Kalu, Abuja
The Arewa Youth Forum (AYF) on Monday expressed support for the renewed fight against drug abuse by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) under the leadership of its Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa rtd.
The forum sought to partner with the Agency in its offensive action against illicit drugs.
National President of the AYF, Alhaji Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu, during a visit to Marwa in Abuja, said the northern youths have decided to support the war against drugs because young Nigerians are now high consumers of narcotics.
“The Arewa Youth Forum is here to seek ways to partner with the Agency in the advocacy and fight against drugs with special focus at treatment and aftercare, family/parenting, community, school systems, advocacy and sensitization to all groups through traditional institutions, religious bodies, media, NGOs, CSOs, state and local governments, among others,” Gujungu stated.
He said they were also at the Agency to present their concept note on their proposed project called ‘Arewa Youth Forum Drug-Free Community Project (AYF-DFCP).
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“The project which is targeted at six pilot states of Kaduna, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Taraba, Kano and Katsina will serve as another build-up and expansion of our project activities among over 10,000 youths in the four initial states, where we implemented the conflict mitigation and peacebuilding project, which was funded by the US Department of State, Abuja. We are hopeful that the program will not only eliminate drug sales and intake but shall create a way through which participants in the project will have ways to economic engagement and livelihood,” he said.
Responding Gen. Marwa said the issue of the drug scourge is on the front burner in the country, “because it is an issue that doesn’t discriminate between North and South, youths and adults, and unless we stand up collectively this problem may put us under.”
He reassured drug menace is not beyond redemption and commended the youths for their efforts and initiative.
He promised to partner with them.
