Dialogue 365: Nigerian Youths Urged To Shun Drug Abuse, Other Vices

Nigerian Youths have been urged to shun drug addiction, crime and other indulgence that are hazardous to their future, as drug is described as an inducer for crime.

This is as call-out has been made that Youth, Drug addiction and Crime in the country need to be addressed.

Osun House of Assembly Chief Whip, Hon Tunde Olatunji made the call at the 2020 International Anti Corruption Day, organized by Centre for Sustained Dialogue and Dialogue 365, held at NUJ Press Center Osun Council, Osogbo.

Olatunji addressing the youths on his lecture tagged “Youths, Drug and Crime in Nigeria, the Legislator perspective” said Youths are the most involved in drug related crimes and vices.

He said a report few years ago indicated that over 400billion US dollars was lost to corruption since 1960 while Nigeria’s external debt is currently about 90billion USD

Adding that there is no corrupt country that can develop, he said corruption has remained one of the greatest obstacle to the attainment of potentials in Nigeria, highlighted pharmaceutical companies among others who fuels corruption through drug use by youths, which propels them into crime.

He said about 70% of drug consumers are youths, an inducer for crime alongside its health hazards, he called out to regulatory bodies not to look for symptoms of drug abuse, but to find the root cause of drug addiction, thereby saving the future leaders of tomorrow the agony of rehabilitation homes.

Olatunji urged stakeholders to deliberately build the capacity of the youths, just as he emphasized that the content inside a youth will determine the purpose of the youth, build the youth from human being to human capacity, – he stated.

Also, Dr Dayo Sobowale talking on Corruption, #EndSars Movement and Future of Nigeria, said the youth has to know and discover who they are, their value, the system and the government, for them to be able to utilize their purpose and future for themselves and the country.

He said the #EndSars protest is a lesson for all, added that the youths should create an identity, avoid health hazardous ventures, embrace healthy living, shun crime and corruption and attain a better life worthy of admiration as future ambassadors of Nigeria.

Sobowale called on governments to improve on value of the country and provide system that will protect all and sundry irrespective of class or stratas, added that Nigeria has not lost its value that people only need to understand it and improve on the value of it.

The Convener of Dialogue 365, Comrade Waheed Saka said the program was birthed out of concern for a better Nigeria free of corruption as present trend found among categories of citizens in the country, particularly governments and youths.