The Gbagyi Traditional Council has declared that it was committed to the fight against drug abuse in Kaduna state.
The Esu Chikun of Gbagyi Chiefdom, HRH Shekoduza Danjuma Barde, assured of the traditional council’s backing when he received on a courtesy visit the leadership of Kaduna State Bureau for Substance Abuse, Prevention and treatment (KADBUSA) at his palace council chamber, Ungwan Romi on Friday.
He said they were in support of Kadbusa’s efforts to prevent and reduce demand and use of illicit drugs in the state.
Esu commended the KADBUSA management for “doing a good job towards preventing the use of illicit drugs,” adding that the “establishment of the bureau is a very strategic move which will help greatly towards having a drug-free society.”
Represented by the Sarkin Fada, Samaila Sarki, the Esu Chikun also lamented that the use of drugs by “children of today is worrisome” and urged all and sundry to work together to find a lasting solution.
The director-general of KADBUSA, Dr. Joseph Maigari, in his remarks, noted that the use of illicit drugs “is destroying the society,” stressing that the Bureau “is not leaving any stone unturned to prevent new cases of drug abuse and treatment of those already addicted to drug abuse.”
“In 2020, 10.9% of Kaduna residents have a drug abuse problem, one third of women in the state have a drug abuse problem, 14.4% of the total population of Nigerians have a drug abuse problem while one fourth of women in Nigeria have drug abuse related problems. If the demand for illicit drugs is reduced, it will affect the supply,” he said.
