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Nigeria’s Drug Epidemic || By Rahaman Onike

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DRUG abuse over time among the Nigerian youths has been a major cause of national quandary due to its devastating effects on the populace. It has always put serious burden on the nation’s health institutions and on annual national health budget.

Where there is prevalence of drug abuse among the populace, the funds that may ordinarily be utilized for other developmental projects are likely to be expended on treatment and rehabilitation of the patients.

Several social disorders in the country nowadays which are national nightmares are associated with the menace of drug misuse and abuses among the Nigerian youths. It has now assumed the status of an epidemic in the country, unlike in the past when the phenomenon was hardly heard and not well spread as the case today.

People of different ages and both gender are often fond of taking illicit drugs and it is now a common occurrence across the nation’s socio -cultural boundaries. Infact, the trend now and the rates of people’s involvement is somehow disgusting and ridiculous particularly in some northern states.

According to reports, Kano State is the most notorious when it comes to prevalence of substance abuse by small children, women and even the aged people.

More specifically, pupils in the primary and secondary schools’ ages are more notoriously involved in the case of illicit drug abuses in the country nowadays. This partly explains the reasons why our adolescents in the secondary schools are visibly implicated in several reported heinous crimes such as cases of kidnapping, yahoo yahoo, ritual killings, armed robbery among other vices in the country.

What this portends is that drug using attitudes and behaviours are indeed major predisposing factors to several illicit crimes as currently prevalent in our society today.

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Glaringly, drug using attitudes of the primary and secondary school pupils cannot be treated with levity, for it has alot of damning effects on the school learning outcomes as a whole and due to the specific negative consequences on the academic achievements of the addicts and drug abusers.

Nigeria’s progression from minor to major drug abusing nation is not unconnected with the challenges of poor parenting, parental bereavement, child abandonment, parental separation among other family issues that could predispose a child to drug abuse.Stress induced by family challenges has made a lot of people become attracted to drugs and substance abuses.

Again, cocaine being expensive and not easily accessible made some of the abusers to now opt for cough syrup like codeine, tramadol,tyre gum, hypo in lacasera,tomtom in lacasera, rephnol among several others as potent alternatives. At times, some abusers do snuff defecation, alabukun, concentrated urine on the excuse that the nauseous substances do give inspiration and can help them to improve on their sexual, mental and physical performances.

Unarguably, the excessive intake of any of the stimulants often results into psychiatric illness. Despite this reality,abusers will not see anything wrong with the drugs .When you visit any of the psychiatric hospitals today,you will discover that some of the patients are victims of drugs or substance abuse.

The amazing scenerio is that drugs are never a panacea to life challenges no matter the active ingredients.Even with the sedative and anti- anxiety agents in some of the abusing drugs and substance,there is never a report of anyone that has overcome stress permanently due to the drug intake.

Rather than to overcome stressful conditions,the report we receive daily is the exhibition and manifestation of highly destructive personal and social behaviours by the drug abusers such as persistent cases of suicidal behaviours,incaceration among other risky behaviours associated with substance abuse.

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Of course, Nigeria’s rising profile in drug trafficking and drug abuse has refused to wane over the years despite the awareness programmes by the government and the press in addition to the advocacy by the Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs).

From mere transit route for marijuana and other opiates, Nigeria has transformed to a country peopled by major hardened abusers and traffickers of hard drugs.

Recently, some Nigerians were killed in foreign countries for drug related offenses. Yet, the rate at which more people are getting involved is unabated and somehow worrisome.

With the report of a collaborative study recently released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in collaboration with the European Union, about 14.3 million Nigerians representing about 14.4 per cent of the country’s population between the ages of 15 and 64 were said to have abused drugs in the past one year.

This is worrisome because of the deleterious effects of drugs or substance abuse on both the abusers and the society at large.It seems we are not winning the war against drug abuse.

In my view, legal control and judicial measures seem not to be sufficient in combating the menace.I feel strongly that apart the effective application of legal instruments and enforcement procedures,greater attention needs to be paid to counselling.Of course, rehabilitative efforts alone cannot equally do the magic. So far drug abusers mirror the dysfucnality of our social life and the problem portrays the true image of our country, it is better the problem is seen as such that requires emergency declarations by the government and other stakeholders.

The odious effect is not good for the image of the country in any way.

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Besides, a lot of positive impacts could be made by making educational institutions to be more actively involved in the war against drug abuse through programmes of instruction in the school. It is envisioned that effective curriculum activities in the school can engender positive attitudinal change on the part of drug abusers.

Other agencies such as the mass media and health institutions should not be left out of concerted effort towards ensuring that proper value re-orientation is provided for the citizens of all ages with emphasis on evils of drug abuse.

Without recording success in the war against drug and substance abuse,our country cannot be crime free. This is because, the more people take hard drugs and abuses substance, the higher the tendency for an increase in the nation’s crime rates.

 

Rahaman Onike, Public Affairs Analyst writes from Oyo, Oyo State

 

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National Issues

16 Governors Back State Police Amid Security Concerns

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In response to the escalating security challenges plaguing Nigeria, no fewer than 16 state governors have thrown their weight behind the establishment of state police forces.

This development was disclosed by the National Economic Council (NEC) during its 140th meeting, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, which took place virtually on Thursday.

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, who briefed State House Correspondents after the meeting, revealed that out of the 36 states, 20 governors and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were yet to submit their positions on the matter, though he did not specify which states were among them.

The governors advocating for state police also pushed for a comprehensive review of the Nigerian Constitution to accommodate this crucial reform. Their move underscores the urgency and gravity of the security situation across the nation.

Similarly, the NEC received an abridged report from the ad-hoc committee on Crude Oil Theft Prevention and Control. This committee, headed by Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, highlighted the areas of oil leakages within the industry and identified instances of infractions.

Governor Uzodinma’s committee stressed the imperative of political will to drive the necessary changes and reforms needed to combat crude oil theft effectively.

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National Issues

Weak Institutions Impede Nigeria’s Sustainable Development – Says US Don

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Renowned academician, Professor Augustine Okereke, from the Medgar Evers College/City University of New York, has emphasised the detrimental impact of a lack of strong social institutions on Nigeria’s sustainable development.

Presenting a lead paper at the First Annual Ibadan Social Science Conference hosted by the University of Ibadan, Professor Okereke urged President Bola Tinubu to foster robust institutions capable of combatting corruption and addressing social ills.

“All our institutions are on the decline,” warned Professor Okereke, underscoring the urgent need for effective structures to facilitate sustainable development. He highlighted the challenges faced by African countries, emphasising the risk of continued poverty, underemployment, and injustice without these foundational structures.

The Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Ibadan, Professor Ezebunwa Nwokocha, asserted the university’s commitment to providing intellectual, context-specific solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.

He called on state and federal governments to patronise researchers in the country, emphasising the faculty’s reputation for producing intellectual leaders.

Professor Nwokocha stated, “Our faculty is reputed for offering deeply intellectual, workable, and context-specific solutions to the challenges faced by Nigeria over the ages.” He emphasised the significance of the conference’s theme in aiding Nigeria’s navigation through its complex existential reality marked by despair, rising inflation, insecurity, corruption, and unemployment.

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During the conference’s opening, Vice Chancellor Professor Kayode Adebowale noted the relevance of the theme, “Social Science, Contemporary Social Issues, and the Actualization of Sustainable Development,” urging participants to generate transformative ideas for Nigeria.

Acknowledging the nation’s progress over 63 years, he expressed concern over setbacks in the economy and social indices, hoping the conference would proffer solutions.

In his keynote address, Professor Lai Erinosho stressed the rapid worldwide social change in the digital age, citing both benefits and unanticipated consequences for human survival. He cautioned against embracing same-sex relationships, citing dangerous implications for humanity.

The First Annual Ibadan Social Science Conference convened a diverse array of participants to explore solutions and intellectual leadership in addressing Nigeria’s pressing challenges.

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National Issues

Nigerians’ Wallets Under Strain As Inflation Soars to 28.92%

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As the country grapples with economic challenges, the latest figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed a surge in the inflation rate to 28.92%, according to the December 2023 Consumer Price Index (CPI) released on a Monday afternoon.

The CPI, tracking the fluctuation in prices of goods and services, illustrates a notable increase from the previous month’s 28.20%, underscoring the pressing concerns surrounding the nation’s economic stability.

In a recent report, the Statistics Office revealed a notable uptick in the headline inflation rate for December 2023, marking a 0.72 percentage point increase from the previous month’s figure in November 2023.

On a year-on-year basis, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) highlighted a significant surge, with the December 2023 rate standing at 7.58 percentage points higher compared to the corresponding period in 2022.

December 2022 witnessed an inflation rate of 21.34 percent, underscoring the economic dynamics at play.

“This shows that the headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) increased in December 2023 when compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., December 2022),” NBS said.

In a further revelation, the bureau disclosed that the month-on-month headline inflation rate for December 2023 experienced a 2.29 percent surge, surpassing November 2023 by 0.20 percent. This indicates a swifter rise in the average price level compared to the preceding month.

The report highlighted a concerning acceleration in food inflation, reaching 33.93 percent on a year-on-year basis for December 2023. This marked a substantial 10.18 percent points increase from December 2022’s rate of 23.75 percent. The data underscores the persistent upward trend in food prices, a trend exacerbated by various government policies, including the removal of subsidies on petrol.

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Notably, in July 2023, President Tinubu declared a State of Emergency on food insecurity to address the escalating food prices. Taking decisive action, the President mandated that issues related to food and water availability and affordability fall under the jurisdiction of the National Security Council, recognising these as essential livelihood items in need of urgent attention.

In Monday’s inflation report, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) detailed the key contributors to the year-on-year increase in the headline index. The leading factors include food & non-alcoholic beverages at 14.98 percent, housing water, electricity, gas & other fuel at 4.84 percent, clothing & footwear at 2.21 percent, and transport at 1.88 percent.

Additional contributors encompass furnishings & household equipment & maintenance (1.45 percent), education (1.14 percent), health (0.87 percent), miscellaneous goods & services (0.48 percent), restaurant & hotels (0.35 percent), alcoholic beverages, tobacco & kola (0.31 percent), recreation & culture (0.20 percent), and communication (0.20 percent).

The report highlighted a substantial 24.66 percent change in the average Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the twelve months ending December 2023 over the previous twelve-month period. This represents a significant 5.81 percent increase compared to the 18.85 percent recorded in December 2022, indicating ongoing inflationary pressures in the economy.

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Food Inflation

In a concerning trend, the food inflation rate for December 2023 surged to 33.93 percent on a year-on-year basis, marking a substantial 10.18 percent points increase from the same period in 2022, when the rate stood at 23.75 percent.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) attributed this rise in food inflation to notable increases in the prices of various essential items. Key contributors include bread and cereals, oil and fat, potatoes, yam, and other tubers, fish, meat, fruit, milk, cheese, and eggs.

These price hikes collectively contributed to the intensified strain on consumers, highlighting the complex dynamics driving the upward trajectory of food prices.

“On a month-on-month basis, the Food inflation rate in December 2023 was 2.72 percent, this was 0.30 percent higher compared to the rate recorded in November 2023 (2.42 percent),” it said.

Clarifying the dynamics behind the recent uptick, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) explained that the month-on-month increase in food inflation for December 2023 was spurred by a heightened rate of escalation in the average prices of oil and fat, meat, bread, and cereals, potatoes, yam, and other tubers, as well as fish and dairy products like milk, cheese, and eggs.

“The average annual rate of food inflation for the twelve months ending December 2023 over the previous twelve-month average was 27.96 percent, which was a 7.02 percent points increase from the average annual rate of change recorded in December 2022 (20.94 percent),” the report added.

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