Gov Emmanuel Inaugurates AKS Drug Control Committee
The Evangelist edition
February 9, 2023
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, has inaugurated a thirteen-member Drug Control Committee for the state, to curb the menace of illicit drug use and its attendant consequences in the society.
The Committee which has the wife of the Governor, Dr (Mrs) Martha Udom Emmanuel, as Chairman, Mrs Esther Ukpe of the Ministry of Economic Development as Secretary, three advisory members from specialized Institutions and eight other members drawn from relevant agencies of government, is instituted in line with a federal government policy for an agency complementary to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, to be replicated in every state of the federation.
Inugurating the Committee, Governor Emmanuel lauded the giant strides of the State’s First Lady through her Pet project – Family Empowerment And Youth Re-orientation Path Initiative, FEYReP, in the provision of succour to the less privileged members of the society, battling cancer and gender based violence and acknowledged the effort of the state Commander of NDLEA, who is also a member of the committee, in combating drug-related crimes in the state.
He urged them to bring to bear such vigour in delivering on the mandate of the committee and pledged optimum support of the state government to enable the committee realise its set objectives.
“So let’s take this as a major burden, in our heart, if we stamp out drugs in our communities today there won’t be armed robbery, there won’t be kidnapping, anybody who goes on kidnapping or rubbery is under the influence of drugs.
“So please let us try as much as practicable to minimize this. All hands must be on deck, let us not spare anybody, you are not safe because the day your child falls into that thing you are finished because all your suffering on that child is gone. No child on drugs can be useful to a parent.
“For NDLEA, a job well done means more job to be done. Let us know where those who sell these drugs are, those who promote it, those who sell it and those who use it. We can fortify your team. We have a crack team that cuts across all armed forces we can go after them,” he stated.
The Committee, according to the governor is to liaise with NDLEA and relevant agencies towards scaling awareness for prevention of drug abuse in the state, support the framework for all drugs reduction activities, advise government in the intra state intervention options, generate data and report best drug prevention programmes, and other activities that may be deemed fit and necessary to minimize the influence, impact and effect of drugs abuse in the society.
Fielding questions from Government House Correspondents shortly after the inauguration, Dr Martha Udom Emmanuel thanked the governor for setting the committee in motion, assuring that the state will be better for it as the committee is poised to intensify campaigns to ensure drastic reduction in drug abuse in the state.
Dr Martha Emmanuel emphasized that the committee would make effort to sensitize drug traffickers and abuse with the intent to salvage or rehabilitate, where necessary, and to otherwise ensure adequate legal actions against unrepentant drug abusers.
