Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has again reaffirmed his position on the need for stringent laws to tackle the widespread menace of drug abuse in society.
Governor Otti stated this when he received the Assistant Controller General of Narcotics, Zone 12, Owerri, Mrs. Florence Ezeonye, whose jurisdiction spans Imo, Abia, and Anambra States under the NDLEA, during a courtesy visit.
The Governor, who expressed concern that drug abuse is fuelling crime among youths, emphasized that stiffer penalties are needed to curb the growing menace and discourage offenders.
“If you notice, you find that a lot of the young people go into crime, then come back to consume drugs to fuel it,” Governor Otti said.
Governor Otti explained that involuntary criminals, who make up 20 per cent, would commit crimes regardless of intervention, while 80 per cent engage in crime out of survival instincts and can quit when provided alternatives.
He said his administration’s approach is to create economic opportunities for the 80 per cent group through job creation and empowerment, while dealing decisively with the hardened 20 per cent using the law.
“For us, we have taken a principled decision to take our people out of poverty, create an enabling environment for them to have something to do — not necessarily giving them money, because if you give them money, they will probably go and buy drugs,” Governor Otti explained.
He further argued that rehabilitation alone cannot end drug abuse and called for stiffer punishments like imprisonment, disclosing that he is engaging with the National Assembly on the issue.
Responding to a request by Mrs. Ezeonye for the relocation of the NDLEA State Command from Aba to Umuahia, Otti said the government would look into it, stressing that “the most important thing is staying where they will be more efficient, nearer to their targets, and getting the intended results.”
Earlier, Mrs. Ezeonye commended Governor Otti for his “pragmatic and impactful leadership,” noting that the visible infrastructural transformation across Abia had left her impressed.
“I was here as a commander between 2011 and 2015, and when I came back as a zonal commander, I missed my way in Aba because of the visible infrastructural development,” she said.
She also conveyed the appreciation of NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd.), for the Governor’s support, including providing accommodation, vehicles, and a rehabilitation centre for the agency, as well as inaugurating the State Drug Control Committee.
