NDLEA urges pupils to shun drug abuse

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Friday cautioned pupils in Lagos State against drug abuse.

Mr Ralph Igwenagu, the Commander of the NDLEA in Lagos State, gave the advice in an interview on Friday.

Igwenagu said that the advice became necessary to ensure pupils’ mental, social, spiritual and physical stability.

He said that research findings had shown that there was a high prevalence of drug abuse in Lagos.

He said that the findings also confirmed that pupils involved in drug consumption had been found to be mentally unfit.

“Drug abuse disrupts their education, paves way for high crime rate and eventually makes such pupils liabilities to their families and society,’’ he said.

He said that the NDLEA command in Lagos was stepping up efforts to ensure that pupils in the state were maximally sensitised to the dangers of consuming illicit drugs.

“It is the agency’s duty to sensitise the residents, especially, the youth to the dangers inherent in drug abuse,’’ Igwenadu said.

He also advised youths to be assertive when saying no to illicit drugs offered them by friends or relatives.

He also implored those involved in drug abuse to make themselves available for advice and rehabilitation.

NAN reports that the NDLEA command in Lagos had on Feb. 26 organised a sentisisation programme for some secondary schools in the state with the theme “Security Day Celebration.’’

Some of the schools that participated in the programme were Ikeja Senior Grammar School, Ikeja Junior Secondary and Ikeja Junior College.