The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has called the attention of the Governments, Schools and other stakeholders on the urgent need to safeguard the youth from the menace of Drug Abuse in the Country.

The call was made by the Agency's Zonal Commander Zone 'C' Minna, Niger State, Yahaya Aliyu, during a Town Hall meeting with a Principals of Secondary School in Kwara State, held in Ilorin.

According to the Zonal Commander, the fight against Drug Abuse is a total war which requires the support of everyone stressing that their is an urgent need to save the teaming youths from the scourge of drug abuse.

He said, “The fight Against Drug Abuse is a total war and requires the support of all and sundry. There is the urgent need to safe our teaming youths from the menace of drug abuse,” he lamented.

Yahaya revealed that the Agency under its chairman, Rtd General Mohammed Buba Marwa is taking a balanced approach in reducing the supply and demand of illicit drugs, and stressed the need for support from government and other stakeholders.

He said, “The Agency under the able leadership of General Marwa adopted balanced approach in drug war (i.e. supply reduction and demand reduction respectively) that is yielding spectacular results as it is revealed in the agency's weekly bulletin and its annual score cards.

“However, the agency is soliciting the support of government at all levels, traditional institutions, academic institutions, civil society/Non-governmental organizations (NGO'S) and our fellow security agencies to effectively fight these twins' evils to stand still because NDLEA cannot do it alone,” he added.

In the same vein, The State Commandant of the Agency, Mohammed Ibrahim noted that In addressing illicit substances used among youths, there is need to start from the schools where peer pressure is playing a role in its prevalence.

He therefore called on the schools to find a way in engaging the students through organization of educative programmes.

“In addressing illicit substances used among youths, we need to start from the schools where they are faced with peer pressure influence. The Schools have to find a way in engaging them, reason why we are here today with the moulding of our future leaders.”

He further lamented the prevalence of drug abuse among youths in the Country noting that 84% of suspects arrested were between ages 14-40, while those that went through Rehabilitation Centre during the same period is 89%.

Ibrahim, however, revealed that the Agency will be partnering with State Ministry of Education, in training Councellors, Teachers and Administrators as well as creating evidence based Intervention, school based Curricula as well as positive school and classroom environment.