Date: 2017-11-01

Ahead of the November 18 local government elections in state, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday vowed to clamp down and prosecute those dealing in production, sales and abuse of hard drugs in the state.

The agency particularly warned members of Nigerian Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPMED) in the state against the production of only drugs that contains codeine and hard substances under the guise of producing cough syrups.

Kwara state commandant of the NDLEA, Barrister One Ogilegwu, handed down the warning at 2017 Anti-drug seminar tagged "I am a stakeholder in drug abuse and control" organised by the state command of the agency in Ilorin. The NDLEA boss, who described the drug abuse situation in the state as "worrisome," said most crimes perpetrated in country, including the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east, were done under the influence of hard drugs.

"Before the local government election in the state, we will embark on multiple raids. Election is approaching, Christmas is approaching, these are restive periods, if any one of you is arrested and brought to us, we will start with you so that it serve as a deterrent to others," he said In his address NAPMED president, Alhaji Wahab Ajibola said the association was committed to reducing drug demand among abusers.

"Our concern as NAPMED is to ensure that we reduce the demand for these drugs, particularly, those drugs under control such as Tramadol cough syrups with codeine, Diazepam, Lexotan and the likes of we could do away with then, we will not only reduce the demand but it will go a long way in saving the lives of our future leaders and crime committed are directly link with influence of these drug."

The Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Atolagbe Alege, said stakeholders should "see the fight against drug abuse as the responsibility that must be shouldered by the society."

He said the state government had set aside special budget to fund campaign against drug abuse and demand.