Oyo Assembly Urged Govt to Tackle Drug Abuse

By Abiodun Ogunrinde, Ibadan

The Oyo state House of Assembly has called on relevant government agencies to take urgent steps to curb the menace of drug abuse occasioned by Codeine and other dangerous drugs being used by youths.

The house made the call after the presentation of a motion titled “The need to strengthen enforcement strategies by the government regulatory agencies to stop the menace of drug abuse occasioned by the use of Codeine and other dangerous drugs by Nigerian youths” co-sponsored by Hon Wumi Oladeji representing Ogbomoso North and Hon Gbenga Oyekola representing Atiba constituency at the floor of the house.

While presenting the motion, Hon Wumi Oladeji observed that some people especially, the youths engage in the use of some dangerous drugs like codeine without prescription by health professionals.

“Codeine as commonly known by the general populace as a constituent of many cough syrups due to its pain relief on chest infections and common cough”.

The honourable members, hence noted that the efficacy of Codeine in the medical parlance is a short acting narcotic for users which should be gotten only on physician’s prescription.

Considering the health challenges and hazard surrounding using Codeine drug, committees have now called on governments at all levels especially, the regulatory agencies of all government establishment including parents and guardians, to combat drug abuses and urgently rise up to the occasion to stop the menace of Codeine abuse and other illicit drugs in our country and Oyo state in particular.

The house also charged school administrator’s and other relevant stakeholders to live up to expectation by supporting and complementing the efforts of government to put a lasting end to abuse of Codeine and other drugs.

Recall that the Federal Ministry of Health through its regulatory policy banned the use of Codeine and purchase of other non OTC drugs except on physician’s prescription as well as the Oyo state Ministry of Health sensitized members of public on the effect of drug abuse especially, Codeine and Tramadol through its enlightenment campaign programmes.

But due to the prevalence of habit among the youth, government have now decided to strengthen its enforcement strategies and enlightenment campaign.

According to Hon Oyekola, “We are so concern about the future of our youths. We discovered that virtually all places in Oyo state now, you see lunatics and that could be as a result of abuse use of these drugs mentioned in the motion. We feel we should tell the parents and the world that they should be careful of what drugs their children are using especially when they returns from school.”

“The rate at which Nigerian youths were engaging in illicit drugs is alarming” He said.

In another development, the state House of Assembly also passed into law, the Oyo State Anthem and logo bill 2017 after scaling through the third reading.