Lenient laws can’t win drug fight in Nigeria – Otti
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti has called for stringent legislations against illicit drug dealers and drug offences as a way of curbing drug abuse in Nigeria.
He made the call when he received the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Abia State Commandant, Mr. Joseph Owoputi, at his country home, Nvosi Isiala Ngwa South LGA.
The Governor, who called for a clampdown on drug cartels in order to cut off the distribution of illicit substances, argued that since over ninety percent of crime is connected to drug abuse, upscaling the punishment would go a long way in discouraging youths from going into drugs.
“We just need to crack the drug cartel. So, if you crack the drug cartel, then the crime disappears.
“Unfortunately, the law is a bit lenient on the use of drugs. I didn’t know that until I was in one of the security council meetings.
“They said that whenever you apprehend somebody using drugs, you counsel and rehabilitate the person. That’s not enough punishment”, Otti said.
Otti, who expressed worry that a lot of young people, including those who are supposed to be in school are being destroyed by drugs, suggested that a stringent law should be passed by the National Assembly to tackle the drug abuse menace from the source,
The Governor assured the new Commandant of his administration’s support against drug abuse.
He further approved two new Hilux Vans for the agency and directed that NDLEA’s abandoned vehicles should be retrieved and fixed by the state government.
