Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has called for intensified advocacy, collaboration and awareness campaigns to curb the growing menace of illicit drug use, particularly among young people.
Speaking in Lagos at the unveiling of “Kick the Habit,” a book authored by Dr Eno-Udoma Eniang, the governor stressed the need to build a drug-free society through strategic partnerships with relevant stakeholders and sustained community sensitisation against substance abuse.
Oyebanji described drug abuse as a silent epidemic, attributing its root causes to factors within individuals, families and the wider society. He noted that the devastating impact of substance abuse has subjected many victims to psychological and emotional trauma, often truncating their destinies.
Highlighting his administration’s efforts to tackle the problem in Ekiti State, the governor cited anti-drug campaigns, community outreach initiatives, rehabilitation programmes and enforcement measures against illicit substances.
He revealed that security reports indicate a disturbing trend in which some users have progressed from marijuana to harder drugs, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated action to protect young Nigerians and provide comprehensive rehabilitation—physically, medically and spiritually.
“Behind every abuse, there is a personality, and that personality has a message. If care is not taken, that individual forms a family; families form communities; communities form a state; and states make up a nation,” Oyebanji said.
He emphasised that law enforcement agencies alone cannot resolve the crisis, calling for the active involvement of religious leaders, traditional rulers and parents. According to him, the strength of any nation lies in how well it nurtures and safeguards the destinies of its youth.
The governor commended the author for contributing to the fight against drug abuse through literature, noting that prevention must be approached holistically.
In her remarks, Dr Eno-Udoma Eniang said many Nigerian youths are exposed to negative influences that predispose them to addiction, adding that the book offers practical guidance and spiritual insight to help affected individuals overcome substance dependence.
Dignitaries at the event included the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, represented by the Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah; the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, represented by the Director of Narcotics and Controlled Substances, Dr Rametu Momodu; and a representative of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), among others.
