EMPOWERMENT WILL TAKE YOUTHS OFF ANTISOCIAL ACTIVITIES — NDLEA

REPORTER: JOHN MADUAGWU

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has identified the empowerment of youths as one of the potent ways of keeping them away from drug abuse.

The Commander of the agency in Abia State, Mr. Williams Nnadi, made this known in an interview with Radio Nigeria in Umuahia.

Mr. Nnadi said such a move would keep them positively engaged throughout the day, and keep them far from drug abuse when they get back home.

He identified unemployment as one of the factors that lure young people into negative activities — drug abuse, armed robbery and other vices — which were detrimental to them and the society at large.

The NDLEA commander made a strong case for youths to be encouraged to avoid idleness by taking advantage of empowerment programmes sponsored by government and private organizations to acquire useful skills.

These skills would make them self reliant and future employers of labour rather than being influenced into activities that were destructive.

Mr. Nnadi reiterated the determination of NDLEA to keep forging ahead with the mandate of fighting the drug menace.

He, however, solicited the support of government, other relevant agencies and concerned individuals in ridding the state and country of harmful drugs.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU