I will Support Campaign Against Drug Abuse in Plateau State – NULGE National Auditor, Comrade Shamdung

By Our Reporter

The National Auditor of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Comrade Shamdung Ayuba Jepla, SAJ has pledged to support the campaign against drug abuse in Nigeria and Plateau state in particular.

Ayuba made the pledge on May 1, 2020 while presenting an award to Mr Panshak Emmanuel Dawap on behalf of Shamdung Ayuba Jepla, SAJ Movement at GSS Mugulum-Chip.

Comrade Shamdung noted that a drug free society is a productive and progressive society.

According to him, youths who form the bulk of the population will contribute positively and meaningfully to the development of their society if they are not engaging in drug abuse.

He, therefore, called on Mhiship youths and beyond to be usefully engaged in entrepreneurial activities to help reduce their dependency on drugs and other substances that will influence them to be counterproductive in the society .

While thanking Mr. Panshak for his efforts in eradicating drug abuse in Chip and beyond, Comrade Shamdung called on youths to take their studies seriously pointing out that education is the only weapon that can be used for the liberation of people from ignorance, poverty and disease.

He expressed sadness that because of rural poverty, some parents cannot afford to pay the school fees of their children and wards in secondary schools.

Shamdung stated that it was in view of the plight of indigent students that he volunteered to pay the junior WAEC registration fee for ten students made up of five males and five females, in all the public and private secondary schools in Chip promising to do more in the nearest future.

Shamdung stated that he passed through the same experience in the past and that he would not want others to pass through same.

Expressing his happiness and gratitude to the SAJ Movement for recognising as well as identifying with him, the ambassador against drug abuse, Panshak Emmanuel Dawap said that the negative consequence of drugs consumption and its abuse on the economy of any community can only be imagined .

He stressed that the effect of drugs abuse render the youths useless and vulnerable.

According to him, his dream is to see a society that is free from drugs, peaceful and free from crime and other anti-social activities.

Earlier, in a sensitization lecture on Covid-19 pandemic at the occasion, the Head of Department, Medical Laboratory Science, University of Jos, Professor James Garba Damen urged them to maintain personal hygiene, wash their hands with soap between times, avoid shaking hands, sneeze on their shoulder, avoid hugging, avoid over crowded places and wearing of face mask at all times.

Professor Damen informed the audience that the virus was deadly and kills faster than HIV/AIDs, hypathitis and malaria. He noted that the virus was no respecter of status, age, qualification, class or religion. He said it has killed people in almost all countries of the world.

Damen pointed out that since local, national and international communities are still battling to find prevention and cure for the virus, people should adhere to the directives given by government and its agencies and stay safe.

Further, Damen commended the Plateau state and Federal governments for the proactive steps taken to provide testing and isolation centres so as to control the spread of the virus. In particular, he congratulated the government of Plateau state for recording only one victim in the index and also, that there was no loss of life. He, therefore, urged Plateau state government to sustain the effort.

In his good will message at the occasion, Acting Chairman of Pankshin/Kanke traditional council, Nda Wesley E. Mulak III represented by MCCDA Chairman, Comrade Khirim commended Panshak Dawap for his campaign against drug abuse and contribution in respect of the fight against Covid-19.

The traditional ruler urged his subjects, especially the youths who are future leaders to emulate Panshak and contribute their own quota to the development of Mhiship land. He noted that every life was important and that every youth has a role to play in making Mhiship land great.

Similarly Ndah Wesley called on all citizens of Mhiship land at home and in Diaspora to pray hard so that God will heal our land and restore good health to the world.