The Delta Ports Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has commended the Mr. Egbejule Arerebo Kingsley-led Gbaramatu Youth Council, GYC, the umbrella body of youths in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, on its efforts and determination to eradicate drug abuse.

The commendation was given by the Commander in charge of Delta Ports Command, Ann Okoebon CN, during a working official visit by the GYC's Anti-Drug Monitoring Committee chaired by Frank Ekpemupolo Esq., on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.

Among other members of the GYC and the Anti-Drug Monitoring Committee present during the visit are Hon. Paul Uyatede (Secretary, Anti-Drug Committee), Comr. Erike Raphael Tarike (Secretary General, GYC), Comr. Wuruyai Maxwell (P.R.O., GYC), Comr. Onitsha Seiyefa Evidence (Financial Secretary, GYC), and Comr. Padowei Doubra (Organiser, GYC).

The GYC President, Mr. Arerebo, who led the working visit, briefed the Commander of efforts put in by the youth body, including the setup of an Anti-Drug Committee, to help curb and eradicate drug abuse, a social vice he said is becoming a threat to the peace and future development of the kingdom.

He appealed to the Commander for the presence of officials of the NDLEA in the kingdom to help stem the tide of drug abuse and to create awareness on the dangers of illicit substance among the youths.

Also speaking on the development in the war against drug abuse by the youth body, the chairman of the GYC Anti-Drug Committee, Ekpemupolo Esq., advocated for both short and long term measures to eradicate the social vice, especially in taming its spread among the youths and students studying in the maritime university in the kingdom.

In that vein he called for the establishment of a post or office by the anti-drug agency in the kingdom, the arrest of drug users and distributors of drugs among other measures.

On their parts, Hon. Uyatede and Comr. Wuruyai, in support of the establishment of a security post in the headquarters, Oporoza, also clamoured for the training of members of the kingdom, particularly the vigilantes, to avoid creating a situation of lack of NDLEA personnel on ground inorder not to create room for exploitation by drug users.

In his response, the Delta Ports Commander, Okoebon CN, expressed her delight in the efforts taken by the youth body in its fight against drug abuse, and commended the youths as setting a commendable example.

According to her, officials of the Delta Ports Command, which overseas the riverine areas of the State, are worried of the negative influence in the intake of illicit substance citing cases of mentally deranged persons roaming the streets and the increase in crime rate, saying "There are a lot of mad people roaming the streets all over Delta State, the rate of drug abuse is alarming" and "Nobody will go into crime or perpetrate evil with their clear mind but due to drugs."

While stressing that the Delta Ports Command "is a new command overseeing places like Sapele and all the waterways or riverine communities in Delta State", she however lamented certain challenges such as the nonavailability of logistics that the Command is facing in effectively combating drug abuse.

Asides arresting users and distributors of illicit drugs, she revealed that the Command is tasked on sensitization such as the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) programme and other school programmes to catch the youths young and to create awareness.

Okoebon CN promised to look into the appeals raised by the youth body and to visit the kingdom for sensitization with the prospect to also train vigilantes to be able to identify tne various kinds of illicit drugs in the war against drug abuse.

"I commend you people for coming forward because there are communities who don't want the NDLEA in their midst because of discrimination. It shows you want solution and as such you should not be ashamed to partner with us," she stated.

"We are not all about arresting but also do advocacy with stakeholders against drug abuse. We have been doing what is called school programme through the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) because the youths are leaders of tomorrow. We have fliers in respect of that to educate the people on the dangers of drug abuse.

"We will come to Gbaramatu to carry out sensitization. One of our goals is to counsel users and rehabilitate them into society," she added.

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