SOLUDO'S ANTI-DRUG ABUSE POLICY: INFORMATION MINISTRY PARTNERS CATTLE MARKET
By Rose Oranye
The Anambra State Ministry of Information, in partnership with the Amansea Cattle Market, recently organised a sensitisation campaign against drug abuse and addiction at the Amansea Cattle Market.
The event, themed 'Operation Stop Drug Abuse and Addiction', drew attention to the dangers of substance abuse and encouraged youths to pursue productive endeavours.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, observed that the cattle market community is a strategic partner to the Solution Government in the development of the state and urged them, particularly youths, to avoid drugs to succeed in life and not live a wasted life.
He warned that drug abuse leads to financial loss, poor decision-making, and potentially, mental degeneration up to the point of schizophrenia (madness).
Mefor assured the youths of the government's interest in their welfare and offered support for those suffering from drug dependency and addiction seeking rehabilitation.
"The Ministry of Information decided to do this programme with the Amansea Cattle Market because we know that the government is interested in the youths here and everywhere in Anambra State. The way we came here is how we will go to other places – markets, churches, mosques and all. We need to talk to our young people so that nobody will say, "I didn't know." Now you know. The decision is yours. If you are wise and willing to change your life, Soludo’s government will help you," he said.
The Commissioner highlighted various initiatives of the Soludo government, including the One Youth Two Skills Programme and free education, designed to empower youths, and encouraged interested individuals to take advantage of these opportunities.
Mefor also assured that he would liaise with the Secretary to the State Government to get the Governor to look into the issue of facilitating the movement of Cattle Market to the permanent site, even as he urged them to remain good citizens and always pay their taxes for the growth of the state's economy.
Earlier in a welcome address, the Chairman of the Anambra Cattle Market, Amansea, Alhaji Bello Magari, observed that drug abuse and addiction are serious problems in the country today, which is why they deemed it important to hold the campaign in order to sanitise the cattle market.
While stating their commitment to continue partnering with the governor in making Anambra better, Alhaji Bello drew attention to the issue of their permanent site.
"We need a place where our customers can drive in and drive out to purchase their goods. Where the government gave us is not on the roadside. Though they promised to construct the road for us and build it as a well-deserved cattle market, but nothing has been done yet, not even the approval for the land," he said.
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