Days back, an undercover BBC reporter in a video, busted the acrimonious activities of a pharmaceutical sales representative whose job amongst other was to distribute different pharmaceutical products for his company. And among the products is a codeine cough syrup. Apparently, codeine is sold at the black market to the most vulnerable and addictive youths in the society.
The video which has since gone viral was met with divergent views, comments, and a general backlash across the country. On their part, the manufacturing company Emzor had since released a statement denying links to the black market and promised to investigate the matter. However, the sales representative depicted in the video has since been dismissed. Similarly, Bioraj Pharmaceuticals Ltd, another culprit in this illicit drugs trade, also sacked the staff purportedly involved in the saga.
In the midst of all this, the question on the lips of most Nigerians is whether or not the culprits will be made to face the full wrath of the law and convicted, or, they’d have a pat on the back after presumably sorting their way out. In the aftermath of the damning report from the BBC and the outrage that ensued, the Nigerian government had banned the use and importation of codeine which it felt could curtail widespread abuse by a larger percentage of youths actively involved in the act. Furthermore, NAFDAC was mandated by the federal government to stop the issuance of permit for the importation of codeine as an active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough. From the above scenarios, it is a clear that governments at all levels are just reactionary rather than proactive, and to a very large extent unwilling to get to the root of the matter.
Some might argue that the ban on the importation and restrictions on the production will not end the scourge and menace of drug abuse in Nigeria, if anything, it will create instant millionaires overnight. These unscrupulous lots will capitalized on the restrictions and make a fortune out of it. For instance, it’s a known fact that the cultivation, consumption, and sale of marijuana is illegal in Nigeria, but access to the “weed” is like buying a sachet water across the street. That is how simple it has been. And, come to think of it, it has been banned for years.
Surreptitiously, many will cash in on the ban and make millions for themselves and create million more addicts on the streets, which sadly will be youths whom mostly are in their prime. It will also create more school dropouts, thugs, bandits and potential terrorist and willing tools in the hands of terror groups. In the middle of all these, one would be tempted to ask, who takes larger percentage of the blame on the moral decadence that led to the increase in drug abuse amongst youths? Parents, society, politicians, globalization or peer groups?
On the flipside however, some might opine the impropriety of blame game. Reflectively, someone must take the blame in order to eliminate this societal ill. At this point, it is pertinent to note, unequivocally that the larger percentage of the blame pointedly focuses on the political class -the politicians!
Absurdly, we must grudgingly accept this fact. Because, politics as it were, has little or zero morality, rather, it is guided by interest only at most times. With the above postulations, one can deduce that, political actors in their desperation wouldn’t be hesitant in recruiting youths, making available for them easy access to all sorts of manipulative drugs to keep them subservient, and a willing tool for political machinations. According to the NDLEA and other antinarcotics experts, Kano state has the country’s largest drug abuse rate. These reports are based on set indices like the number of seizures, arrest of addicts and conviction of arrested dealers.
Kano is known as the hotbed of political activities in the country as such any visit to campaign headquarters of political heavyweight and juggernaut across the state will leave one dismayed by the sheer display of open drug abuse by thousands of layabouts and political thugs. The sight is pathetic and heart-wrenching. However, it is at such places all forms of atrocious act, be it political thuggery, illicit drug trading and banditry are sown. Yes, when elections are over, political activities become obscure and less politically related thuggery are at it lows as the elected politician relocates to Abuja. With obviously nothing to fall back on, the youth becomes a menace to society. This forms the crux or basis for the rampant drug abuse, not only codeine, but tramadol, refanol and other dangerous substances.
The complicity of the politician in the spread, production and consumption of codeine and other illicit drugs cannot be overemphasized. There are more decent and laudable approaches to get the youths actively involved in political process, campaigns and rallies without recourse to the use of illicit drugs.
Yes, there can be a drug-free approach which includes providing freebies to youths based on their specific peculiarities and disposition. Admittedly, the political actor can seek the support and audience of occupational groups, societies, associations, educational groups (scholarship programs) as well as community development groups. After an exchange of views and compromises reached, he should provide for them basic equipment akin to their various occupations and wants and with a pledge to do more in the course of time.
When politicians learn to adopt such method of drug-free campaigns, then obviously, the menace of drug abuse, especially among our teeming youths, would be on the downward slide. Anything other than this, the politician(s) should be top on the list of those promoting the production, distribution and consumption of codeine and other related hard drugs in our society.
The federal government should not hesitate to wield the big stick on any politician found providing drugs to youths. At the same time, legislation and laws should be promulgated to bar and sanction any politician or political party engaged in the act.
Anything else is an invitation to anarchy and paying lip service to fight against drug abuse among youths. Banning codeine and other illicit drugs alone cannot end the menace of drug abuse. Umar, a PhD student in the Department of Public Administration, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and a caucus member of APC writes from Tarauni local government of Kano stat
