The lawmakers representing Badagry constituencies One and Two in Lagos State House of Assembly have urged parents to warn their children against drug abuse and cultism.
The two lawmakers – Ibrahim Layode and Setonji David – made the call during their Constituency Stakeholders’ Meetings held at separate venues on Thursday in Badagry.
The theme of the 2021 edition was: “Increasing Wave of Drug Abuse: A Threat to Nation Building”.
Setonji held his meeting at Ajara-Topa Guest House, while Layode hosted his meeting at Suntan Beach, both in Badagry.
Speaking at the meeting, Layode said that parents should not put all burden of drug consumption on the government alone.
The lawmaker said that the responsibility of nurturing youths against drug abuse should be done by parents at early stage.
“Parents should watch their children as early as five years, talk to them on the menace of drug.
“We are using this forum to enlighten traditional rulers, clerics, Imams and residents on the menace of consuming drugs or substances like cannabis, codeine, tramadol and tranquilizers.
“These drugs have diverse and devastating effect on the youths and safety and progress of the society.
“This has also been associated with some other criminal behaviors such as gang formations, cultism, armed robbery, rape and other social disturbances,” he said.
On his part, David said that the state was giving special attention to the menace of drug abuse in the state.
David said that the state had created different rehabilitation centres in the state to treat youths found to be addicted to drug abuse.
He said the House of Assembly had also made different laws to check the menace of drug abuse.
“This is a serious challenge for us and the future of our children and this is why we have created this forum to talk to our stakeholders on how to check mate the menace,” he said.
Mr Solomon Bonu, the Special Adviser to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tourism, Arts and Culture, urged parents to warn their children against drug abuse.
He said that youths that involved in drug abuse were those involved in cultism which had resulted in killing and maiming of their fellow youth.
Bonu commended the lawmakers for facilitating repair of roads, building of classrooms in schools in the constituency.
Mr Olusegun Onilude, Chairman, Badagry Local Government, commended the lawmakers for choosing the issue of drug abuse as area of focus for this year stakeholders meeting.
“We always say that youths are the leaders of tomorrow but if our future leaders are now engaged in drug abuse what will be the aftermath,” Onilude said.
He said that all hands must be on desk to deal with the menace of drug abuse.
Speaking also Mr Samson Olatunde, the Chairman, Olorunda LCDA, highlighted the countless number of human resources wasting away due to drug abuse.
He urged the public to shun these vices and channel their energy towards productive endeavour that could aid nation building.
Traditional rulers, party chieftains, youth’s leaders, market men and women, residents of Badagry graced the events