The governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has said his administration is deeply committed to the fight against drug trafficking, cybercrime, cultism, kidnapping, and other related offences, stressing that security and the rule of law remain the cornerstone of his government’s development agenda.
Aiyedatiwa made this known on Thursday when he received a delegation of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), led by Mr. Cheikh Toure, Country Representative of the UNODC, Nigeria Office, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Governor’s Office in Akure.
He emphasized that Ondo State places premium importance on order, security and the rule of law, which form the first pillar of his administration’s seven-point agenda.
“In recent times, we distributed about 75 hybrid vehicles to our security agents to aid their operations, especially in flashpoint areas across the state. We have also given massive support to the NDLEA to tackle illicit drug cultivation and trafficking, particularly cannabis, which grows freely in some parts of the state,” the Governor said.
Aiyedatiwa further highlighted Ondo State’s youth-focused initiatives, such as the One Youth, One Skill programme, which trains and empowers young people with vocational skills and startup grants, aimed at discouraging them from crime and fostering peace and productivity.
In his remarks, Mr. Cheikh Toure commended the efforts of the Ondo State Government in the areas of security, economic development, and youth empowerment.
He explained that UNODC’s mission is not only to engage at the national level but also to work directly with states and local governments to ensure grassroots impact.
Toure, who noted that Nigeria has one of the highest rates of drug addiction globally, stressed the need for preventive strategies, including education at primary and tertiary levels, community-based interventions, and stronger inter-agency collaboration to address drug abuse, human trafficking, and financial crimes.
He assured that the UNODC would explore more partnerships with Ondo State to strengthen youth resilience, enhance prosecution capacity, and reduce the prevalence of drug abuse and other crimes.
