The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division/Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force, South South, Operation DELTA SAFE, Maj Gen Jamal Abdussalam has urged women and youths of Port Harcourt Barracks not to engage in drugs and illicit substance abuse. He made the call while declaring open a 2-Day Sensitization Seminar on Curbing the Menace of Drugs and Substance Abuse within Port Harcourt Barracks held at Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya Badminton Court, Bori Camp.
The GOC who was represented by the Commander 6 Division Garrison Brig Gen Edet Effiong urged the youths to desist from indulging in any act capable of jeopardising their future. He further added that the menace of drugs and substance abuse is on the increase, particularly among the youths, hence all hands must be on deck to reverse the ugly trend.
Maj Gen Abdussalam used the platform to call on those who have fallen victims of drugs and substance abuse to seek help before it is too late. This he averred is necessary to have a drug free society, where women and youths would channel their energies to useful ventures.
While making her remarks, the Chairperson Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association(NAOWA), 6 Division Chapter, Mrs Maryam Abdussalam has called on women to be vigilant and ensure they monitor their children by ensuring they do not indulged in drug or substance abuse. She further added that these measures would go along in reducing the menace of drug and substances abuse in the society.
The seminar had lectures delivered by Mrs Stella Marris Amede of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Rivers State Command. She reiterated that the NDLEA has devised the “Supply Control Measure and Demand Reduction Programmes” in order to curb the abuse of drugs and usage of harmful substances in the society. She further said sensitisation lectures provides an opportunity for the agency to create awareness on the dangers inherent in drugs and substance abuse.
Mrs Amede categorised drugs into legal, licit and illicit drugs, stating that licit drugs such as alcohol, caffeine and nicotine can be addictive. She added that the usage of illicit drugs can lead to decreased motivation, unwarranted suspicion of others, lack of concentration, reduced academic performance, lung cancer, memory loss, heart, liver problems among others. This she observed most often leads to depression and untimely deaths.
The 2- days seminar had the Chairperson NAOWA, Mrs Maryam Abdussalam and her members in attendance. It also attracted over 700 participants in and around Bori Camp. These include, women and youths drawn from the barracks community.
DANJUMA JONAH DANJUMA
Major
Acting Deputy Director
6 Division Army Public Relations
1 September 2023
