Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Abbas Tajudeen, has advocated for urgent action to tackle the twin crises of drug abuse and domestic violence plaguing the Northwestern region.
The speaker stated this at the launch of a four-month Northwest Zonal sensitisation campaign against drug abuse and domestic violence held in Kaduna on Monday.
Tajudeen highlighted an alarming statistics showing a 25 per cent rise in drug abuse cases in the Northwest over the past three years.
According to him, Kaduna alone records a 28 per cent increase in drug seizures in 2023, while domestic violence incidents have surged, with up to 40 per cent of women in Kano reporting abuse.
“The statistics are not just numbers; they represent shattered homes, lost opportunities, and a dangerous trend threatening our collective security and prosperity,” Tajudeen stated.
The speaker commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for strengthening the NDLEA’s operations and reinforcing laws against domestic violence.
Tajudeen urged all state governors, local government chairmen, and community leaders to fully support the campaign, stressing that: “The future of our region depends on the decisive actions we take today.”
The NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, raised further alarm over the growing drug crisis in the region, revealing that an estimated 3 million people, equivalent to 12 per cent of the Northwest’s population were battling drug addiction.
He said Kano State leads with 16 per cent addiction rate, followed by Zamfara 13.5 per cent, Kebbi 12.6 per cent, Katsina 12 per cent and Kaduna 10 per cent.
Marwa linked the region’s insecurity, including banditry, kidnapping, and terrorist to drug abuse.
He urged state governors to establish at least three new rehabilitation centres per state and support expanded employment opportunities to curb youth involvement in illicit drug trade and crime.
The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, emphasised the strong link between drug abuse and violent crimes, saying: “Enough is enough.”
He outlined a community-driven strategy, including town hall meetings, advocacy visits, and grassroots awareness campaigns to combat the menace.
Stakeholders at the event agreed that tackling drug abuse and domestic violence requires a multi-sectoral approach, combining law enforcement, education, rehabilitation, and economic empowerment.
The campaign, which covers Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Jigawa, and Kebbi States, aims to mobilise traditional rulers, religious leaders, and civil society groups to drive behavioral change.
