Anambra Government Moves to Intensify War Against Drug Abuse, Partners NDLEA

By Praise Chinecherem

The Anambra State Government is stepping up its campaign against drug abuse and moral decadence among youths, with the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation partnering the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to drive a statewide value-reorientation campaign.

The partnership was discussed when the Principal Training Officer, Training/Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Mrs Priscilla Onyema, paid a courtesy visit to the Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr Law Mefor, at his office in Awka.

Mefor said the decision by Governor Chukwuma Soludo to rename the ministry to include “Value Reformation” was deliberate, stressing that the growing incidence of drug abuse and other social vices among young people posed a serious threat to the state.

He particularly identified crystal methamphetamine, popularly known as “mkpuru mmiri,” as a major concern.

“The drug is synthetic, it is cheap, and it is evil. It destroys an individual completely, making rehabilitation extremely difficult. Virtually every community in Anambra is affected,” Mefor said.

The commissioner expressed concern that the growing drug crisis and moral decline among youths could undermine the gains recorded by the Soludo administration in infrastructure, healthcare and education.

According to him, the state’s value-reformation agenda is built around four key areas: the fight against drug abuse, anti-cultism, moral and behavioural reformation, and general value reorientation.

He disclosed that a technical committee had already been constituted to develop a blueprint for a comprehensive statewide campaign and enforcement strategy.

Mefor said the Information Ministry was prepared to work closely with the NDLEA to expand public sensitisation through schools, communities and various media platforms.

“We need each other in this campaign. We need NDLEA to pursue the added mandate of value reformation. How can we broaden and intensify it to tackle the issues comprehensively?” he asked.

He further disclosed plans to formally invite the NDLEA’s Alternative Development team to Anambra to explore areas of collaboration and develop practical interventions for youths affected by or vulnerable to drug-related activities.

Mefor said the proposed campaign would be implemented as an inter-ministerial initiative involving the Ministries of Information, Youth and Sports, Women Affairs, Health, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, as well as town unions and community leaders.

Earlier, Onyema said the NDLEA had adopted a balanced strategy combining drug-law enforcement with advocacy, prevention and public education.

She disclosed that the agency had reached more than 170 schools across the 21 local government areas of Anambra State within the past three years as part of its sensitisation efforts.

“Most people go into drugs out of ignorance or peer pressure. If out of 100 people we speak to, even five per cent make the right decision, that is progress,” Onyema said.

She also introduced the NDLEA’s newly established Alternative Development Directorate, which is designed to support youths willing to abandon drug trafficking while providing assistance to vulnerable individuals who may be targeted for recruitment by drug dealers.

Onyema urged interested states and stakeholders to engage with the agency to access the programme.

“States interested can write to the NDLEA Chairman, through the State Commander, for the team to visit and enlighten stakeholders,” she added.

The proposed collaboration is expected to strengthen prevention, public education and community-level interventions as Anambra intensifies efforts to curb drug abuse and promote positive values among its youths.
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