National Orientation Agency to partner Delta Bureau on drug abuse, attitudinal change - Ikolomi

National Orientation Agency, NOA, and the Delta State Orientation Bureau, DSOB, has agreed in principle to join efforts in their renewed fight against drug abuse, moral decadence among youths, social vices and attitudinal change through state wide sensitization campaigns.

State Director of the National Orientation Agency, Mrs Tracy Ikolomi, on Thursday in Asaba stressed the need for the collaboration during her courtesy visit on the Chief Executive Officer of Delta State Orientation Bureau, DSOB, Dr Latimore Oghenesivbe, noting that the use of hard drugs by a reasonable number of deviants in the state, and across the country is becoming worrisome and must be tackled headlong.

She said national and subnational governments must of a necessity do anything and everything lawful within available resources to embark on state wide sensitization campaigns, as well as rehabilitation of victims of illicit drugs, stressing that if the rising wave of use of hard drugs and drug addictions is not tackled, it would continue to impact negatively on society, because we cannot afford to have young people of questionable character as future leaders of our states and country.

"We have the mandate of our amiable Director General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu of the National Orientation Agency, to embark on intensive sensitization campaigns in urban and rural communities on illicit drugs and attitudinal change, as well as to get feedbacks on government policies, programmes and socioeconomic activities. We share similar responsibilities with the State Orientation Bureau.

"The State Orientation Bureau is fully on ground, and you know the terrain better in terms of culture and ethnic diversity which is why it is very important and necessary for the National Orientation Agency at the state level to partner DSOB in the fight against drug abuse and other social vices.

"My team and I, are very happy for the warm reception you accorded us. NOA and DSOB must do the needful in the area of joint sensitization campaigns across the state as a result of the rising wave of criminality occasioned by use of hard drugs" she said.

Responding, the Head of Delta State Orientation Bureau, and Executive Assistant on Communications to the Governor of Delta State, Dr Latimore Oghenesivbe thanked the State Director of the National Orientation Agency, Mrs Tracy Ikolomi, for her visit and assured her of DSOB's willingness to partner NOA on sensitization campaigns, especially on drug abuse, illicit drugs, attitudinal  change.

He lamented the alarming rate of criminality across Nigeria, which according to him, is rooted in the use of hard drugs by criminal elements, adding that the partnership will go a long way to address the menace of drug addition and it's negative consequences on state and national development.

Oghenesivbe, a lawyer and justice of the peace, advised parents who are encouraging and assisting their children to engage in advance fee fraud,  otherwise known as Yahoo to have a rethink, because they too can become victims of fraudsters, saying that what goes around, comes around.

He noted that some parents knowingly bought laptops and android phones for their children to defraud unsuspecting victims through multifaceted false pretences thereby commiting the crime of advance fee fraud via the internet and electronic devices.

"This collaboration between the National Orientation Agency and the state Orientation Bureau is very timely, and we shall do the needful to ensure that sensitization campaigns commences as soon as possible.

"The State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has agreed to also partner with DSOB in the fight against drug abuse. This triangular relationship is compelling and we are inspired to work very closely with NOA and NDLEA, going forward.

"The state governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori is also worried about the rising wave of criminality across the country, and he has mandated the Bureau to work out proposals on sensitization campaigns that would  emphasize the need for our youths and adults to stay clean by abstaining from the use of hard drugs.

"We are working on multifaceted sensitization strategies. We strongly believe that working with NOA and NDLEA will go a long way to curb the menace of drug abuse and use of hard drugs in the state.

"The state government is determined to complete the Kwale rehabilitation center, and upon completion it will help to rehabilitate victims of hard drugs, while they also undertake skills acquisition programmes of their choice through the State Bureau of Job and Wealth Creation. This is necessary to guarantee moral and economic stability after rehabilitation," Oghenesivbe assured.