Brave Dickson
Bua Groups at the Nigeria Port Authority, in Port Harcourt has sensitized dock workers and truckers on the dangers of drug abuse.
Speaking at the one day sensitization on Tuesday, the General Manager of Bua Groups, NPA, Mohammed Ibrahim urged dock workers to shun illicit drugs, saying that drug will do them more harms than good.
He said, “we have experienced in this port where somebody attempt drowning himself by jumping inside the port lagoon.
“What on earth would make such person to cut short his own life if illicit drug was not involved?
“The way our truckers park indiscriminately around our port shows drug intake is behind it.
“We are organizing this sensitization programme on drug abuse to make you see the dangers of illicit drugs and abstain from drugs.”
On her part, the NDLEA Port Harcourt seaport commander in charge of narcotics, Stella Ngweoke maintained that drug abuse is a global and complex problem that is increasing everyday.
According to her, ” over 14.3 million Nigerians live on drugs
“The study which was conducted by the United Nations also revealed that one out of every four drug addicts is a female.
“In a family where the mother is taking drugs, you can imagine what would happen.
‘We are calling on every well meaning Nigerian to join us in our fight against drug abuse.
“Before 2011, cannabis was the only illicit drug produced in Nigeria which is grown in every state of the country.
“Today. over 18 Methamphetamine laboratories have been discovered in various states of the country.
“Last year alone, over 10,000 Nigerians were arrested at different ports trafficking in one form of drugs or the other.
Same year, NDLEA confiscated over 2million kilograms of assorted drugs.”
Our correspondent reports that the sensitization was also characterized by interactive sessions.