Senator Hope Uzodinma, Governor of Imo State, has urged youths in the state to shun methamphetamine, otherwise known as ‘mkpurummiri’ and other forms of illicit drugs.
The governor gave the advice during an enlightenment on drugs organised by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in collaboration with Ikukuoma Sports Development Foundation, at Ezinihitte Mbaise council area of Imo, on Sunday.
Uzodinma, represented by his Special Adviser on Narcotics and Illicit Drugs Monitoring, Chief EzechukwuObonna, described the use of illicit drugs as the bane of productivity among the youths.
He further advised the youths to rather embrace the acquisition of digital skills, as well as agricultural practices for survival.
“Don’t destroy your future. My motive for establishing the Bureau of Narcotics and Illicit Drugs Monitoring is to make Imo a drug-free state,” he said.
Speaking, NDLEA’s Deputy State Commander, Operations and Training, Mr Lamuwa Shehu, described the abuse of drugs as a global problem, noting that youths who engaged in illicit drugs neither lived healthy nor became useful.
“About 280 million people use drugs worldwide; while 15 million persons abuse drugs in Nigeria, 6 million persons are victims who are in dire need of help,” he said.
The founder, Ikukuoma Sports Development Foundation, Chief Summers Nwokie said that the program was intended to disabuse the minds of youths from illicit drug use.