The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe (Agbogidi) says plans were on by his community to set up a rehabilitation centre to help victims of drug addiction and abuse. Achebe disclosed this in an interview with newsmen after a walk through major streets of Onitsha against drug abuse staged by a Non-Profit Organisation, the Come Alive Initiative.

 

The monarch, who expressed worry over the increasing spate of drug addiction in the area, said the fight against drug abuse especially among youths had been a tough fight in the commercial city. He said victims of drug abuse from the area were currently sent to Lagos for rehabilitation, noting that some of them had returned fully rehabilitated to become part of the movement against drug addiction.

 

“It is a tough fight but we are up to it. Thanks to volunteers like Come Alive Initiative. We are going to set up a rehabilitation centre in Onitsha to help victims. More important, we are reaching out to schools and youths because to us, prevention is more important than rehabilitation. The overall objective is to see how we can declare Onitsha as drug free area,” he said.

Igwe Achebe called for collaboration in the fight against drug addiction and other vices that destroys youths in the country. While advising youths to steer clear of drugs and avail themselves of opportunities in the education sector, the monarch advised them to develop ambition and work hard towards achieving it. The member representing Onitsha 1 constituency, Mr Chugbo Enwezor expressed concern over the increase of drug abuse in Onitsha, noting that it had caused a lot of havoc to the community.

 

“Youths should apply themselves in meaningful endeavours. They must be determined to stay away from things that are bad or things that will destroy them,” the APGA lawmaker advised.

 

Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the Come Alive Initiative, Mr Victor Enwezor said the walk was part of early intervention against drug abuse and addiction in the area. According to him, we have been talking to age grades, students, youth organisations and parents, but now decided to do a walk to sensitise the entire community on the impending challenge and how it could be handled.

 

“What we want to achieve is to find a way of reducing the scourge in Onitsha-Ado. The situation on ground in Onitsha is alarming even though the town is not tops in terms of the scourge, but we are not waiting for drug to consume the community before we start talking,” he said.

 

The walk was done in company of some school pupils, Nigerian Red Cross Society and Police. They started from Obi Ozor Onyea road through St. Stephen’s road, Bishop Onyeabor road, Emmanuel Church road and to Ime-Obi, Awka road. According to the national coordinator, the sensitisation would continue in some select schools within the area as well as film shows in strategic areas of the community.

Oracle News