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Imo State House of Assembly has urged Governor Hope Uzodimma to intensify efforts to curb the intake of illicit drugs, especially among youths of the state.
The call was contained in a motion presented by Innocent Egwim (Ideato North) during resumption of plenary, yesterday, under the leadership of the new Speaker, Kennedy Ibe.
Egwim said: “Hard drug intake poses severe health and psychological effects to the consumers and constitutes socio-economic threat to the state.
“After the consumption, the consumers are negatively propelled to exhibit immoral behaviours and engage in all forms of crimes against the society.”
Uju Onwudiwe (Njaba) seconded the motion, while the Deputy Speaker, Amarachi Iwuanyanwu (Nwangele), Ngozi Ngozi Obiefule (Isu), Chigozie Nwaneri (Oru East), Uche Ogbuagu (Ikeduru) among other members supported it.
They urged Uzodimma to reconstitute a committee that will work in collaboration with Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to fight the menace and establish rehabilitation centres in the state.
The state’s Ministry of Health was also directed to run intense media campaign to educate the illicit drugs consumers of the inherent life-threatening effect and other consequences of the habit.
The House said that it would interface with the NDLEA, Commissioner of Police and Commissioner for Health to ascertain their level of commitment to curbing the menace in the state.
