The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has emphasized that while drug pushers must face the full weight of the law, individuals trapped in addiction must not be abandoned. In his view, the dealer needs justice, while the dependent requires care.
Speaker Abbas made these remarks in Kaduna at the conclusion of a three-day sensitization program against drug abuse and domestic violence, organized in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA).
Highlighting that prevention begins with information, Speaker Abbas stressed that effective action requires widespread participation:
-Parents must watch for warning signs.
-Schools must provide counseling and report issues.
-Communities must reject the silence surrounding addiction and domestic violence.
-Young people must resist peer pressure and seek help when needed.
Addressing domestic violence directly, the Speaker asserted that it is neither discipline nor culture, but pure abuse.
Furthermore, Abbas linked the fight against drugs directly to national security, noting that every shipment intercepted denies criminals funding for weapons and recruitment, while every person rescued from addiction is one less individual vulnerable to violent groups.
To emphasize the urgency of the issue, he referenced the traditional proverb: when the house catches fire, nobody asks whose room is burning before reaching for water.
He outlined a four-part framework for tackling these crises:
-Enforcement stops the shipment.
-Education reduces the demand.
-Treatment restores the individual.
-Community vigilance protects the neighborhood.
Speaker Abbas reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s laws, supporting both enforcement and treatment initiatives, and leveraging parliamentary oversight to ensure tangible results in protecting communities and safeguarding young people.
