The chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa has expressed concern over drug abuse in Kano State.
According to him, the state currently has about two million drug addicts.
Marwa spoke during his visit to the state governor, Abdullahi Gaduje on Monday.
He said “In Kano State, drug abuse prevalence is 16 percent; that is, in every six persons, one is a drug addict and they are between the ages of 15 years and 64 years.
“Kano State has close to two million drug users abusing tramadol, codeine, and other cough syrups, rather than cannabis.
“I will like to mention here that since I assumed leadership of NDLEA in January, we have seized over two million kilograms of assorted drugs, estimated at billions of naira.
“Eight thousand people were arrested and 1,600 are now serving jail terms in correctional service facilities, and we are still working.
“Drug abuse has gone to the level of destroying our families unless is tackled with all seriousness it deserves.’’
Marwa also maintained that usage of drugs enhances the illicit activities of bandits, kidnappers, and armed robbers, among others.
He, however, expressed satisfaction in the agency’s partnership with the Kano State government to fight the menace, adding that they should create a law that will prevent politicians from encouraging drugs usage in the youths.
Meanwhile, Ganduje during his address, said Kano State “being commercial centre, some use that opportunity to traffic drugs and you know we have the international airport, railway and roads that link to many states.”
“So, Kano find itself in a vulnerable situation,’’ the governor said.
He added that it was a policy in the state that commissioners and permanent secretaries must undergo drug abuse tests before getting appointed so as to reduce the drug abuse rate in the state.
Ganduje said that government would relocate legitimate drug dealers to a market as part of efforts to check drug abuse and trafficking.