Emma Elekwa

Anambra State Ministry of Information and Value Reformation and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have agreed to deepen collaboration to tackle drug abuse and promote value reorientation among youths in the state.

The agreement was reached during a courtesy visit by the Principal Training Officer, Training/Media & Advocacy of NDLEA, Mrs Priscilla Onyema, to the Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr Law Mefor, at his office in Awka.

Mefor said the renaming of the ministry by Governor Chukwuma Soludo to include value reformation was deliberate, given the growing moral decay as seen in the rising cases of drug abuse, especially crystal meth, locally known as mkpuru mmiri, among youths in Anambra, describing the trend as a clear and present danger to society.

“The drug is synthetic, it is cheap, and it is evil. It destroys an individual completely, making rehabilitation extremely difficult. Virtually every community in Anambra is affected,” he said.

The commissioner expressed concern over the moral decay affecting youth, overshadowing Soludo’s achievements in infrastructure, health and education, as many youths are being ravaged by drugs.

“Soludo’s value reformation agenda has been broken into four areas: anti-drug abuse, anti-cultism, moral and behaviour reformation, and general value reorientation.

“A technical committee is already in place and working on a blueprint to guide the statewide campaign and enforcement,” he added.

The Commissioner further explained that the Ministry was ready to collaborate with NDLEA to expand sensitisation across schools, communities and media platforms.

“We need each other in this campaign. We need NDLEA to pursue the added mandate of value reformation. How can we broaden and intensify it to tackle the issues comprehensively?” he queried.

Mefor promised to formally invite the NDLEA’s Alternative Development team to Anambra to work out further collaboration with the anti-drug agency.

He envisioned the program as an inter-ministerial project involving Information, Youth and Sports, Women Affairs, Health, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, town unions, and community leaders.

Earlier, Mrs. Onyema said NDLEA has adopted a balanced approach of enforcement and advocacy, and has reached over 170 schools across Anambra LGAs in the last three years.

“Most people go into drugs out of ignorance or peer pressure. If out of 100 people we speak to, even 5% make the right decision, that is progress,” she said.

Onyema also introduced the NDLEA’s new Alternative Development Directorate, which seeks to empower youths willing to quit drug trafficking and provide support to vulnerable persons at risk of being recruited by dealers.

“States interested can write to the NDLEA Chairman, through the State Commander for the team to visit and enlighten stakeholders,” she added.