The Area E Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Afegbai Albert, yesterday admonished Nigerian youths to emulate him in curbing drug abuse as he has never taken alcohol nor smoked since he was born. Speaking at the 7th edition of youth conference, organised by Melejenstin (Buzopat) Youth Empowerment Initiative (MYEI) in Festac, Lagos, Afegbai stressed that youths’ exposures to drugs and social media contribute to the spate of cyber crime in the state. He said a recent report worldwide on drug abuse indicated that about three million Nigerians suffer from drug abuse out of over 36 million people world-wide. However, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said recent statistics have revealed that 40 per cent of Nigerian youths between 18 and 35 years are deeply involved in the abuse of drugs. Afegbai said: “ I am 54-years-old now. Since I was born I have never taken alcohol or smoke. I don’t even know how it tastes not to talk of taking drugs. I am the Area commander, people know me; you can ask. People who take these things do not have the will to stop, that is why they have not stopped. I am advising youths to seek help and change. “I understand drug addiction because of my son. I sent my son to Canada to study. For the two and half years he spent there, he did not go to school because he was doing drugs. But thank God there is improvement now.” “80 per cent of the hotels in Festac Town are occupied by youths and most of the cases the Command is resolving are drug related cases. Youths should desist from actions that would endangered their lives. “One of the cases I handled, a girl sold his father’s G-wagon for N50, 000 to purchase a substance. He was so addicted that she cannot do without taking it. They are disobedient to parents.

“The solution remains that everyone should go back to God and when faced with such situations always ask yourself, what would Jesus Do. Let it be a guide while parents should train their children appropriately.”MEANWHILE, the convener and founder of MYEI, Mrs. Chibuzor Osigwe, has berated parents for the surge in use of substances. According to her, parents have failed in parenting and have become a major determinant to youth involvement in addictive substances. She urged parents to be involved in the fight against drug abuse in Nigeria. She said: “ let me tell you something why I said parents should be involved in this, part of the blame goes to the parents. “It is not about you being a lawyer or a doctor. It is about you understanding that from age one to 10, you have to give attention to your children at that age. “If the child is showing any sign of improper behaviour, you can correct the child because once a child enters secondary school, the moral and the training you give such a

child will help him in future purposes.”