The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, has raised concerns about the increasing rate of drug abuse among youths in the Niger Delta, PulseNets learned.
Speaking to PulseNets on Thursday during a visit by Pentaglo Nigeria Limited, a drug abuse advocacy group, Otuaro condemned the disturbing rise in addiction, particularly among young people in the region. He expressed deep concern over the harmful effects of drugs like cocaine, heroin, Indian hemp, and Tramadol, stating, “Our children, who hold the key to the future of our beloved country Nigeria and region, are being ruined by substance abuse.”
In his remarks to PulseNets, Otuaro commended the efforts of Pentaglo Nigeria Limited in raising awareness about the dangers of drug abuse. He urged the public to lend their voices to what he described as a “serious problem” affecting youths in the oil-rich Niger Delta. “The group’s initiative is exactly what’s needed in these times,” Otuaro said, adding that rehabilitation and reintegration of juvenile delinquents remain a primary goal of the PAP.
PulseNets further reported that Otuaro assured the group of the Amnesty Office’s support in eradicating the juvenile drug culture, which has led to widespread mental health issues among young people. He emphasized the need for immediate action, warning that the continued spread of drug abuse would have lasting consequences on the lives of the youth.
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Meanwhile, Mr. Seisingha Pondi, the coordinator of Pentaglo Nigeria Limited, told PulseNets that the rise in drug use among youths in the Niger Delta is alarming. Pondi sought a partnership with the Amnesty Office to establish a rehabilitation program aimed at restoring young addicts and reintegrating them back into society.
