The rising concern over widespread drug abuse in Katsina State has garnered significant attention, prompting urgent calls for action from influential figures.
During a recent dialogue with stakeholders, Dr. Muhammad Usman-Bugaje, a prominent political activist, presented a stark assessment of the situation, highlighting the gravity of the issue.
Dr. Usman-Bugaje sounded the alarm, cautioning that Katsina is currently in a “dangerous situation” due to the pervasive use of drugs, citing statistics from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) that position Katsina as second only to Bauchi in drug seizures and arrests of both dealers and users.
Despite the relentless efforts of the NDLEA, the severity of the problem persists, as highlighted by Dr. Usman-Bugaje.
The dialogue, convened by the Katsina Consultative Forum (KCF), brought together concerned citizens, traditional rulers, and former President Muhammadu Buhari, indicating the seriousness with which the issue is being addressed.
Alhaji Aminu Abubakar-Danmusa, chairman of KCF, underscored the primary objective of the event, which is to “establish enduring solutions to the peril of drug abuse in the state.”
Dr. Usman-Bugaje emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to combat the crisis, proposing collaboration among communities, government agencies, and religious organizations.
He stressed the significance of preventive measures targeting youth and students, in addition to identifying drug sources and understanding the underlying factors driving drug abuse in Nigeria.