Kano State Commissioner of Finance, Dr. Ibrahim Jibril, has requested the state command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to establish a unit within the Audu Bako Secretariat complex in the state capital, to check the activities of drug peddlers and users.
He said the call was necessary because some unscrupulous elements were taking advantage of the spacious secretariat complex to sell and abuse drugs.
The Commissioner appealed while receiving the state Commandant of the NDLEA, Mr. Abubakar Idris Ahmad, in his office, in Kano.
“The issue of drug abuse among youths in the state is very alarming. I was made to understand that because of the size of the secretariat, inadequate security, and lack of lights especially at night, youths and drug peddlers hide here to conduct illicit drugs business”, Dr. Jibril lamented.
The Commissioner was, therefore, of the view that situating an office of the NDLEA at the state secretariat will facilitate routine surveillance thus, mitigating security challenges posed by the drug peddlers.
He said the state government has adopted a broad strategy to tackle the drug-related problems in the state, including the re-activation of 21 different skills institutes, aimed at making the teeming youths productive members of the society.
Dr. Jibril assured that the government would work closely with the state Command of the NDLEA to fight drug abuse and its attendant consequences.
Earlier on, NDLEA Commander, Abubakar Idris Ahmad, said the visit was to strengthen collaboration towards ensuring that drug dealers and their patrons do not take undue advantage of the state secretariat complex.
“What these people are doing should not be underestimated but we are encouraged by the commitment of the state governor to tackle the drug menace, as exemplified by his visit to the Kiru reformatory, shortly after he was inaugurated in May, 2023”, he asserted.
Commander Ahmad used the opportunity to express gratitude to the state government for its contribution towards completing and equipping the abandoned Drug Rehabilitation Centre at the headquarters of the state NDLEA Command, expressing optimism that people in Kano will patronize it.
Credit: Ameen Kabeer Yassar
