By Matthias Ogbagah

ASABA – COMMITTED to dissuading youths and other categories of persons from
the use of hard drugs in Delta State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has approved the commencement of Drug-Free Delta, DFD, sensitisation campaigns across the three senatorial districts of the state.

In line with his MORE AGENDA for the state, and his renewed war against drug abuse, has directed the Chief Executive Officer State Orientation and Communications Bureau, Dr Fred Oghenesivbe to partner with the state command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, and other stakeholders to dissuade youths and other categories of persons from the use of hard drugs.

Oghenesivbe in a Public Affairs Radio program, Oghenesivbe said the state command of NDLEA officially confirmed its readiness to deploy personnel to work with the bureau, plan and execute a result-oriented sensitization campaign that would focus on the negative effects of illicit drugs, and provide free counseling and rehabilitation services to drug users.

He said the joint efforts of the bureau and NDLEA were targeted at youths, especially those in secondary schools
and institutions of higher learning, to discourage them from the use of hard
drugs, adding that part of the sensitization campaigns is to organize inter-school debates on the negative effects of hard drugs, and winners shall be rewarded with handsome prizes and certificates of participation duly signed by NDLEA and the bureau.

Oghenesivbe disclosed that Governor Oborevwori would remain focused on youth empowerment and productive
engagements through greater participation in governance, as can be seen from the numerous appointments of youths into his cabinet, and for ensuring that over 80 percent of local government council chairmen and vice chairmen are youths, males and females under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

He assured that the future of every Delta youth is bright and colorful and that no stone would be left unturned to ensure that Delta State is either drug-free or drastically reduced to the barest minimum, noting that the State Commandant of NDLEA, Abubakar Wada, is working round the clock to raid all red spots where hard drugs are sold and used, especially along Okpanam Road, DBS road and other identified locations in the state capital and across the three senatorial districts.