Rising from one of its meetings, at the FRSC hall in Abeokuta, the Ogun state Drug Control Committee (SDCC), chaired by the wife of the State Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, unanimously agreed to adopt more strategies in ridding the State of drug abuse.
Mrs. Abiodun while charging members of the committee, Comprising health professionals, educators, representatives of ministries, NGOS, Civil Society actors, Faith based organisations and community leaders, among others.
The First Lady who was represented by Dr. Olufunke Oyeneye, commended the Contributions of NDLEA in State led by Commander of Narcotics, Tijjani Rabe and his Team, as well as members of the SDCC, for their determination to stem the tide of drug abuse in the State.
She charged them on collective efforts by upping their game in the fight against drug abuse, developing and domesticating social advocacy programmes, visit drug rehab centres, and not leaving out prayers,for them to succeed in the humanitarian task.
“TEAM work,which means together everybody achieves more, should be considered so we can rid our State of drug abuse. I urge you to cash in on the use of social media to reach our youths,” she said.
Speaking at the event, State Commissioner for sports, Hon. Wasiu Isiaka, also commended the gathering and called for further sensitisation, while applauding the inter agency engagement of the committee members, charging them to sustain it with the urgency it deserves.
He noted the huge investment the Prince Dapo Abiodun led administration was committed into sports development with the various renovations of sport facilities in the State, which has resulted in various sporting events hosted by the State where Youths from various parts of the country and the African continent have met to showcase their talents which had put the Ogun on the international map.
“We must put a strategy in place to increase surveillance of our sports facilities in order to ensure a drug free environment for the benefit of our youth and our dear state,” he said.
In his welcome speech, State NDLEA boss CN Tijjani Rabe, represented, by Deputy State commissioner CN Ekwu Eucheria, stated that “arrest and seizure of illicit substances within the State is a sobering reminder that the challenge remains real and urgent. In 2024 the State command seized 12 tonnes of cannabis sativa, arrested 687 suspects made up of 572 male and 115 female and counselled 406 drug users with 221 convictions secured. In 2025, 395 suspects have been arrested, while 186 were counselled with 97 convictions secured. 8 tonnes of cannabis and various quantities of other psychotropic drugs were seized,” he said.
He stated “This statistics align with the National Drug use survey in a nationwide survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics, (NBS), with the support of the United Nations office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) which revealed that the highest abuse of drugs is recorded in the southern geopolitical zones with the southwest having the highest prevalence, This is worrisome”.
Members of the committee resolved to further collaborate and ensure the work of the committee is sustained, to rid the state of drug abuse.
A communique is expected to be issued.
