30 March 2008
Lagos — Drug abuse is becoming a pervasive problem and is directly responsible for the increase in robbery, violence and youth restiveness being experienced today in Nigeria, President of Association of Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria, (AISSON) Dr. Ona Ekhomu has said.
Drug abuse, according to him, is also responsible for a large percentage of the mass casualty accidents involving commuter vehicles on our roads in recent times. Speaking at a security seminar for intending Certified Protection Officers in Lagos recently, Ekhomu indicated that drug abuse decreases productivity, increases work place accident and safety incidents and also results in greater absenteeism. "Drug abuse leads to an increase in workmen compensation costs and greater healthcare cost for companies. In fact, it is a loss-loss situation for the firm" he said.
Psycho-active drugs alter the structure and function of the brain, including mood, perception or consciousness," he said. Ekhomu identified marijuana, a drug that diminishes the user's mental capacity as the most abused drug in Nigeria. In Lagos metropolis, marijuana is openly abused by youths, motor park touts, and working class persons trying to get high, he said.
He expressed concern about increase in cocaine use in Nigeria especially since the highly addictive stimulant is native to far away South America .
Said he: "Increasingly, Nigeria is becoming a net consumer of hard drugs. Cocaine and amphetamines are being mixed with local gin at motor parks and sold as drug cocktails nicknamed Shepke and monkey tail. These potent stimulants are used by long distance drivers are "stay awake" drugs. However, these stimulants have been a significant factor in road crashes."
Speaking on youth militancy, Ekhomu said "these hard drugs when consumed by youths or by criminal elements give them a delusional feeling which diminishes human lives in their perception thereby increasing the potential for violent attacks, communal violence, political violence and attacks on corporate assets."
In that state, he said, they have no regard for human lives or private property. Ekhomu called for strengthening of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to take the leadership position in the fight against hard drug trafficking and abuse. He called for the formulation of a national drug control policy in order to checkmate the indiscriminate production, storage, use and abuse of hard drugs.
He said that in spite of the high level of substance abuse in the country; enforcement activities on drugs like amphetamines are not very aggressive.
Ekhomu also urged corporate organizations to develop and enforce drug control policies within their companies. "Companies must adopt a zero tolerance policy on drug abuse at the workplace."
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