NOA boss expresses concern over drug abuse among youths

Alhaji Mato Yakubu, State Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA) has decried the high level of indiscipline and drug abuse among youths, especially secondary school students.

Yakubu expressed his concern during a sensitisation programme on drug abuse among primary school and secondary school students organised at Central Primary School Gombe on Tuesday.

He said that the agency embarked on the exercise because of the menace of drug abuse and addiction among the youths in the state.

Yakubu noted that youths were an important segment of society describing them as leaders of tomorrow.

He advised the youths to shun people with questionable character, avoid all forms of social vices and be at peace with one another.

The state director said youths should be disciplined, skilled and self-reliant so as to reduce over-dependence on parents and government.

Also, the state Commandant, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Aliyu Adole said the abuse of drugs had negative effects on the brain and other systems of the body.

Adole, who was represented by Mohammed Alkali, an officer in the agency, said that students were not supposed to be exposed to hard drugs because it could damage their brains.

He advised them not accept substances from politicians to commit any crime.

The commandant also advised students to make sure that they kept good friends and stopped associating with bad friends.

Alhaji Abdulkadir Abubakar, the Senior District Head of Gombe, also advised students to focus on their studies and develop interest in positive things that would be of benefit to them in future.

Our correspondent reports that, NOA had organised the programme at Community Secondary School, Dukku; Central Primary School, Dukku; and Government Comprehensive, Bojude, Hassan, among others.