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ASAGBA SEEKS COLLABORATION WITH DELTA GOVERNMENT ON FIGHT AGAINST DRUG ABUSE

The Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN), has been commended for inaugurating the Asaba Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation Committee to tackle the rising incidence of drug abuse in the capital city. The Director-General of the State Bureau for Orientation and Communication, Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, praised the monarch’s initiative, citing the devastating effects of substance abuse on individuals, families, and communities.

According to Dr. Oghenesivbe, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) reported a significant surge in drug-related activities in Delta State, with approximately 500,000 individuals between 15 and 65 years engaged in illicit drug use in 2023. “Drug abuse and crime also have significant economic implications, including increased healthcare costs, lost productivity, and strain on law enforcement resources,” he noted.

The chairperson of the Asaba Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation Committee, Obi Nwanyi Ajufoh, expressed the committee’s readiness to collaborate with stakeholders to educate people in rural areas about the dangers of substance abuse. “We want to tag along to help Asaba youths overcome substance abuse… So many of them are drowning in drugs,” she said.

Dr. Oghenesivbe pledged the Bureau’s commitment to collaborating with the committee to amplify the sensitization campaign and make a meaningful impact in communities across the state. Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s leadership has been instrumental in driving efforts to reduce drug abuse prevalence in the state through his “Drug Free Delta” initiative.

The NDLEA Delta Command seized over 1,000 kilogrammes of assorted drugs and arrested nearly 600 suspects in the first half of 2025. “We recognize that users are not criminals; they are patients,” said the Deputy Commander, Mr. Victor Isibor, who emphasized the need for parents to play an active role in guiding their children away from substance abuse.

The Delta State Government has established counseling and rehabilitation centers in Kwale and Agbor, and plans are underway for the second phase of the “Drug Free Delta” campaign targeting 58 secondary schools and all tertiary institutions in the state.

ASAGBA SEEKS COLLABORATION WITH DELTA GOVERNMENT ON FIGHT AGAINST DRUG ABUSE

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