Concerned Women Against Drug Abuse (CONWADA), is an off-shoot of the NGO, Women, Youth & Children Care Organisation (WYCCO), founded by Barr. (Dr) Mrs. Farida Waziri, OFR (Former Chairman of the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission - EFCC). I am a valued member of CONWADA, which paid a courtesy call on the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Rtd. Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (Former Military Administrator of both Borno and Lagos States on the 2nd of June 2021, ahead of the 26th June International Day Against Drug Abuse.
I recall that I was the Head of Department of Political Science, Lagos State University (LASU) when General Marwa was appointed Military Administrator of Lagos State in the 1990s. We were all very excited, and he did not disappoint. 'Keke Marwa', has been replicated in many parts of Nigeria. 'Operation Sweep' rid Lagos of criminal elements under his watch. As Military Administrator and by extension Visitor to LASU, Gen. Marwa initiated far-reaching reforms that put the University on the path to greatness. Am I digressing? That is what happens when you are discussing a high achiever like Brig-Gen Buba Marwa. You cannot but remember his antecedents.
The same vigour and astuteness he was known for in his earlier endeavours has been replicated at the NDLEA in just four months of his assumption of office - N90bn worth of drugs has been seized! This impressive feat was high in the consciousness of members of CONWADA when they visited the NDLEA boss.
Concerned women and indeed mothers both within and outside WYCCO/CONWADA are aware of the extensive damage done to the lives of young (and not so young) men and women by the consumption of illicit drugs. There is a nexus between the consumption of hard drugs and criminality. Insurgents, bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers, rapists, ritual murderers, etc commit all these heinous crimes under the influence of psychotic substances. The new Czar on the bloc, Brig-Gen Marwa is mopping up these dangerous drugs at source before they get into the hands of the end users who are destroyed by same! Kudos. Many lives and families have been wrecked by hard drugs.
In her speech, Barr. Farida Waziri emphasised the fact that the youth bulge, unemployed and unemployable graduates of various institutions constitute a critical mass of individuals that could be used to foment mayhem in our clime. As they say, 'The idle hand is the devil's workshop'. She said CONWADA was ready to partner with NDLEA for the celebration of the 'International Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking 2021' and that modalities had been put in place to enable families and individuals that have struggled or are struggling with drug abuse to tell their heart-rending stories. Mrs. Waziri noted that as at December 2020, there were 170 Universities churning out graduates into the job market. But where are the jobs? Besides, are the graduates equipped for the job market of the Fourth Industrial Revolution?
Brig-Gen Marwa responded by commending WYCCO/CONWADA for the visit. He said Kano state government is already testing potential political office holders for drugs/drug addiction. He says such drug tests should be carried out for persons at all levels - even potential national office holders! He also suggested that potential couples should be tested for drugs before being allowed to marry. We don't want drug addicts as parents or abusive spouses. Nigeria is indeed facing a drug epidemic that is disabling young men and women in their prime.
Besides, Gen Marwa said money realised from hard drugs is used to fund criminal activities. The President is committed to ridding Nigeria of hard drugs. He warmly welcomed the advocacy against illicit drugs by WYCCO/CONWADA. He charged his guests with the task of continuing to emphasise the role of good parenting and indeed the home front in the fight against the trafficking and consumption of hard drugs. Besides, the stigmatisation of women who are addicts should be discouraged. They need to be encouraged to come forward and access treatment.
The meeting ended on the convivial note of a symbiotic relationship between WYCCO/CONWADA and NDLEA going forward...
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