Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has led a campaign against drug abuse and illicit trafficking as part of activities marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in the state.
Diri advised the people, particularly the youth, to shun hard drugs and trafficking of illicit substances, as they were harmful to their health and the society.
He spoke on Thursday shortly after the weekly Prosperity Walk at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, Yenagoa, and urged youths to develop themselves by acquiring skills and working towards actualising their God-given potentials.
“We just completed a nine to 10-kilometre walk, which is a test of our fitness. As it is said, health is wealth. Today is the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. We are not only observing the global campaign, we are also leading it here in Bayelsa.
“No one in his right senses goes to commit crime and violent acts except that individual is under the influence of hard drugs. My advice to youths is be self-confident, have the fear of God and develop your innate potential for you to become a star.”
He implored youths to emulate the shining example of a Bayelsa-born United States-based athlete, Victory Godah, who was discovered through the state’s sports programmes.
Diri commended her gesture of donating sports equipment as a way of giving back to the state.
“Victory Godah from Ekeremor Local Government Area was discovered here and because of her skill, she is now at the University of Minnesota, United States. She has given back to the state through sports equipment so that more of us can have that access.”
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe, emphasised the importance of the weekly walk, stating that participants above 40 years would have their blood pressure controlled after taking about 5,000 steps.
Also, state chairman of the Drug Abuse, Addiction, Prevention and Rehabilitation Committee, Dr Peter Owonaro, said the committee’s outreach in the state had been a huge success, noting that a recent research indicated that drug abuse prevalence rate dropped by five per cent from 21.4 per cent in Bayelsa.
Also, the state commander of the NDLEA, Kanu Sunny, lauded the state government for its unprecedented support in the fight against drug abuse and trafficking.
Sunny said the campaign was taken to secondary schools as well as tertiary institutions and encouraged all to join in the war against the menace.
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