LAGOS NOA HOLDS NATIONAL SECURITY SENSITIZATION AND RE-ORIENTATION PROGRAMME AGAINST POLITICAL THUGGERY, KIDNAPPING, DRUG ADDICTION, RADICALIZATION AND VIOLENT EXTREMISM
Nigeria as a nation has been going through great challenges in recent times owing to the unpatriotic activities of some faceless elements who derive joy in inflicting pains on themselves and on the entire citizenry by causing them to live in fear. A critical appraisal of those that perpetuate criminal acts shows that youths form the bulk and among these youths are unemployed graduates and undergraduates from different Institutions of learning both secondary and tertiary across the federation. To this end, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Lagos Directorate, on Tuesday the 21st of December, 2021 held a one day “National Security Sensitization and Re-Orientation programme against Political Thuggery, Kidnapping, Drug Addiction, Radicalization and Violent Extremism at the Open field of Mushin Local Government in Lagos State.
Setting the tone for the discussion, the Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA) Lagos Directorate, Mr. Waheed Ishola said that as an Agency of government involved in community mobilization and sensitization, experience has shown that drugs are often associated with virtually all anti-social behaviours bedeviling Lagosians. It is the enabler and the trigger which propels people to go into crimes and criminalities. He spoke on seven key areas on how to build a security and community safety culture. These were:
– Having the Right Attitudes and Values – love, trust, tolerance, self-control, discipline etc.
– Patriotic Spirit – putting Nigeria first in whatever we do, play a patriotic role to expose evil acts around us by giving vital information to security agencies.
– Peaceful Sermons by Religious Leaders instead of political thuggery.
– Proper Parenting – Parents to ensure that their children/wards imbibe positive attitudes and behaviour.
– Educational Institutions – School curriculum should regularly engage pupils/students with civic education as it relates to nation building.
– Need to be Disciplined and have dignity in whatever job or work one does.
In his keynote speech, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations Lagos State, DCP Ahmed M. Kontagora said that drug abuse, including drug addiction and trafficking has a universal ramification that transverses socioeconomic, religious, cultural and ethnic boundaries. He noted that studies have shown that most drug addicts started smoking in their youth. As they grow older, they seek new thrills and gradually go into hard drug abuse. He further said that nationwide survey has it that 65% of high school students use drugs to have a “good time” with their friends, 54% wanted to experiment to see what it is like, while 20-40% used it to alter their moods, to feel good, to relax, to relieve tension and to overcomes boredom amongst others. As the future of any nation is dependent on how well trained, disciplined and motivated its youth are, he advised that an urgent step should be taken to eradicate the menace of drug abuse and addiction in its entirety, while measures must be taken to curb and or eliminate the negative factors that militate against youth development and national security.
On her part, the Assistant State Commander, Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mrs. Titilope Ogunluyi said that Drug abuse is the non-medical use of mind-altering or addictive substances in socially inappropriate or harmful ways. It also includes substances other than food which are taken in order to affect the structure or function of the body. In effect, people take drugs to achieve certain desired goals in sports, studies, work etc. Drugs she said could be illicit, when prohibited by laws of the land or legal (socially acceptable). She however puts the blame of social vices on poor parenting from the homes. She urged mothers and women generally to go back to the basics of taking proper care of their children and wards and stop the pursuant of money at the detriment of their children. Mothers and wives she said, should learn to live well with their husbands instead of the broken homes and single parenting we have today.
Addressing the youths specifically, the Assistant Superintendent of the Corp1(ASC1), Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) Lagos State Command, Mr. Abolurin Oluwaseun Olumide said that with the high incidences of social vices, there is need for every community and her residents to build a culture of security and community safety awareness. By doing so there will be information flow and proper engagement with security agencies. He used the occasion to inform the general public that the Command had deployed over 2000 officers and men to provide 24 hours security at all worshiping centers within the state throughout the period of the Christmas festivities.
Ambassador Christogonus C. Ibe, Founder/Executive Director, African Youths Initiative on Crime Prevention (AYICP) sort to proffer solutions. Since charity the say begins at home, he said that parents should effectively discharge their responsibilities by inculcating values and morals in their ward/child up bringing. Government should formulate people-oriented policies that will help in eradicating extreme poverty in the country. They should put in place programmes of action on skills acquisition and wealth creation so as to enable young unemployed graduates to be self-reliant and job creators. While farm-settlements and agro-allied industries that will process farm produce will be there for the teeming unemployed youths.
Earlier in his welcome speech, the Executive Chairman of Mushin Local Government, Hon. Emmanuel Olarenwaju Bamgboye who was represented by the Special Adviser; Hon. Kehinde Babatunde commended NOA for bringing the sensitization programme to the local government as a way to enlighten members of the public on the dangers of illicit drugs and other social vices destroying the area. He said that because of the volatile nature of the area within the state on the issue of social vices, it was apt to have the national security programme in his domain. The chairman urged all present to see the event as part of their civic responsibilities to disseminate news on government policies, programmes and activities to friends, neighbours and family members.
The forum was well attended by critical stakeholders across the local government areas of the State, namely: Community Development Associations (CDAs); Members of Nigerian Police; Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC); National Council of Women Society of Nigeria (NSWC); People Living with Disabilities (PLWD); Artisans; National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW); Members of National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN); Council Executives, Members of Political Parties; Market men and women; Media amongst others.
Hight-point of the event was the robust questions and answer session and pledge by all in attendance to uphold and key into teachings of the day.
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This is a great archivement indeed. May Allah continue to protect and guide us all upon this sarcastic situation. How is the family and work sir? Wish you all the best in all your endeavors.
Yes. It is…..