By Kehinde Aderemi
In a bid to combat the rising problem of substance abuse among Nigerians, the Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Meranda, has called for a comprehensive review and implementation of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act.
She made the call when she spoke at the Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) Stakeholders’ Conference, organised by the MTN Foundation and held at the MTN Golden Plaza, Falomo, Lagos.
According to her, “As Deputy Speaker and a legislator, I remain committed to the well-being of our people in Lagos and Nigerians in general. I use this platform to call for a comprehensive review and implementation of the NDLEA Act, which will ultimately bring these policies to the state level so all State Houses of Assembly can get involved.
“We must enforce tougher restrictions, especially at the grassroots, as part of the measures to curb access and protect our most vulnerable citizens. We all know that prevention is cheaper and far more effective than rehabilitation.
“This is why we must continue to invest in education, youth development, and community empowerment to redirect energy away from street vices and substance abuse towards productive and promising futures.”
Meranda called for collaborative efforts and synergy between government agencies in the fight against substance abuse in the country, adding that it would take such collaboration to break the vicious cycle of abuse in society, even as she commended the MTN Foundation Board.
“This is not just a fight for one agency or one arm of government. It is everyone’s fight! Together, we must break the cycle and build a healthier, drug-free future,” she said.
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