Comptroller Waziri assures SCGYI of collaboration on Advocacy of rehabilitation centers

By Ify. Onyenweli

The Edo State Comptroller of Immigration,, Mr Uba Waziri has revealed that in the fight against drug abuses, and rehabilitation of People who abuse drugs especially you g people has been neglected over times.

Comptroller Uba Waziri stated this while receiving members of Securing Creative Goldmine in Youth Iniative who were in his office on a advocacy visit in Benin City.

Assuring the Executive Director of SCGYI and leader of the team , Comrade Edwin Asibor of the servuce ‘s readiness to partner with team in advocaating for the non-criminalization and discrimination of people who use drug in the state Comptroller Waziri said building and equipping rehabilitation centers remains key to the reduction of the menace drug abuse in in the state

Speaking further , Mr Waziri stressed that as one of the major stakeholders against cross border crimes which include smuggling of mugrants and drugs from Country to Country, the Immigration Services will join hands to advocate the need for rehabilitation centers in the Country.

Speaking Earlier, the Executive Director, Edwin Asibor lamented on the increasing rate of drug abuse in the country particularly Edo state which according to him requires all hands to be on desk(Young persons, security agencies, religious leaders, Parents, Government, NGOs and CSOs respectively) for holistic approach to be adopted.

According to him, the most disheartening part of the story is the increase criminalization and discrimination of drug users which has not helped to reduce the increase rate of drug user.

“The security agencies are only interested with arrest and prosecution of people who use drug without recourse to Education, Counseling and referral for treatment’

He however appeal for collaboration by stakholders in the advocacing for the non criiminalization and stigmatization of persons who use drugs especially returned migrants and stressed for the need for prevention for those who have not started using drugs and harm reduction for those already using drugs