Buba Marwa, the chairman of the National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has revealed that Kano State has about two million drug addicts, representing a 16 percent prevalence.
Marwa made the disclosure when he paid a courtesy visit to Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje, NAN reports.
According to him, the drug abuse prevalence is 16 percent; that is, in every six persons, one is a drug addict and they are between the ages of 15 and 64 years.
“Kano State has close to two million drug users abusing tramadol, codeine, and other cough syrups, rather than cannabis.
“I would like to mention here that since I assumed leadership of NDLEA in January, we have seized over two million kilogrammes of assorted drugs, estimated at billions of Naira.
“Eight thousand people were arrested and 1,600 are now serving jail terms in correctional service facilities, and we are still working.
“Drug abuse has gone to the level of destroying our families unless it is tackled with all seriousness it deserves,’’ he said.
Marwa said that the use of drugs propelled criminal activities ranging from banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery, among others.
He however urged the state government to make legislation that would prevent politicians from giving drugs to youths.
