The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), National Youth Service Corps and the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church have moved to raise awareness on the dangers of drug abuse and sensitizing youths on how to avoid addiction.

The Area Commander of the NDLEA in Bonny LGA, Suleiman Ileya disclosed this move on Saturday, June 15, 2024 during special programme against Drug Abuse tagged SNDYL (Say No to Drugs, Yes to Life) held at the SDA Church in Bonny, Rivers State.

Represented by his Assistant, Ogar Ayim, the NDLEA boss described drug abuse as “an evil wind that blows no one any good”, stressing that drugs have the potential to cure diseases and affect normal functioning of the body and brain but warned against drug and substance abuse.

“We find it very necessary to go out to sensitize the community on the dangers of drug abuse and even trafficking so as to cut the supply.”

“When we succeed in cutting the supply we equally succeed in cutting the demand. So, in this case today we are in this church to let the church congregation know the dangers of drug abuse; that is the reason we have to come with our corps members.”

“We first gave them a drama to portray the message very well and our responsibility is to sensitize people on the dangers of drugs and the responsibility of every individual member both the church, the Media, traditional rulers and every other individual.

It’s the responsibility they have to keep the danger and inflow of drug abuse away from the society.”

Ileya thanked the Seventh Day Adventist Church for accepting to host the sensitization programme, calling on other public-spirited Nigerians to join the campaign to stop the drug abuse in the society.

Speaking, the President of the NYSC Community Development Services (CDS), encouraged the youths to stay far away from drug abuse, urging them to say no to drugs and build a society that they and generations after them would be proud of.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which is a federal agency operating under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Justice, was established to checkmate illicit drug trafficking and use within Nigeria.