District Head wants stiffer penalty against drug dealers, drug-abusers
Alhaji Ahmad Bashar-Aminu, District Head of Sabongari in Zazzau Emirate, has called for stiffer penalties against drug-dealers and drug-abusers to effectively check the menace.
He made the call when an NGO, Arewa Youth Trust Foundation, paid him a courtesy call in his palace in Sabongari, Zaria, Kaduna State on Wednesday 28th August 2018.
Bashar-Aminu, who spoke through the District Secretary, Alhaji Tukur Alhassan, said the call became imperative in view of the negative consequences of drug abuse on societal and national growth.
The district head expressed regret that the existing law on these crimes provided for a fine of N50, 000 or three months imprisonment.
He said that such penalty was too meager.
“The best way to effectively check this menace is by reviewing the existing law to attract stiffer penalty against those found guilty of such offences.
“I am advocating for a double punishment, a fine of N1 million to N2 million with five to 10 year-jail term against anybody found guilty, if not, the fight against drug-abuse will not yield the desired benefit.”
He said that he appreciated the visit of Arewa Youth Trust Foundation and assured that the foundation was not new to him.
He aid that he had been in contact with the leadership of the foundation for sometime.
The district head advised the foundation not to relent in its efforts at creating awareness among youths towards shaping their attitude for a prosperous future.
Earlier, the Chairman of the foundation, Alhaji Fahad Ahmed-Chikaji, had told the district head that the visit was to seek his support and the cooperation of village heads under his domain.
He said that there was the need for the district head to encourage and direct his village heads to arrange a time when the foundation would visit their respective areas for sensitisation.
“We are here to seek royal blessings and solicit your support and cooperation as well as village heads under your domain toward the sensitisation and enlightenment campaigns for the youths.
“It may interest you to know that Gov. El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State had recently selected two people from each of the 23 local government areas as ‘Gender Ambassadors.’
“Myself and Miss Rahila Pious happened to be the two selected from Sabongari and our responsibility is to go down to the grassroots to enlighten the youth on the importance of girl-child education and dangers of drug-abuse.”
He said that drug-abuse had now become a common phenomenon, especially among the youth and married women, adding that it could only be checked through consistent sensitisation.
The chairman said the foundation would also educate youths on the importance of ante-natal, the need to reduce maternal deaths and ways to curtail the spread of HIV/AIDS, among others.
“This is because record has shown that Kaduna State is among the leading states with high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.
“It was also reported that the prevalence of the disease in Nigeria is still on the high side as the figure stands at over 18 million, hence the need for intensive campaign to reduce its spread,” he said.
He made the call when an NGO, Arewa Youth Trust Foundation, paid him a courtesy call in his palace in Sabongari, Zaria, Kaduna State on Wednesday 28th August 2018.
Bashar-Aminu, who spoke through the District Secretary, Alhaji Tukur Alhassan, said the call became imperative in view of the negative consequences of drug abuse on societal and national growth.
The district head expressed regret that the existing law on these crimes provided for a fine of N50, 000 or three months imprisonment.
He said that such penalty was too meager.
“The best way to effectively check this menace is by reviewing the existing law to attract stiffer penalty against those found guilty of such offences.
“I am advocating for a double punishment, a fine of N1 million to N2 million with five to 10 year-jail term against anybody found guilty, if not, the fight against drug-abuse will not yield the desired benefit.”
He said that he appreciated the visit of Arewa Youth Trust Foundation and assured that the foundation was not new to him.
He aid that he had been in contact with the leadership of the foundation for sometime.
The district head advised the foundation not to relent in its efforts at creating awareness among youths towards shaping their attitude for a prosperous future.
Earlier, the Chairman of the foundation, Alhaji Fahad Ahmed-Chikaji, had told the district head that the visit was to seek his support and the cooperation of village heads under his domain.
He said that there was the need for the district head to encourage and direct his village heads to arrange a time when the foundation would visit their respective areas for sensitisation.
“We are here to seek royal blessings and solicit your support and cooperation as well as village heads under your domain toward the sensitisation and enlightenment campaigns for the youths.
“It may interest you to know that Gov. El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State had recently selected two people from each of the 23 local government areas as ‘Gender Ambassadors.’
“Myself and Miss Rahila Pious happened to be the two selected from Sabongari and our responsibility is to go down to the grassroots to enlighten the youth on the importance of girl-child education and dangers of drug-abuse.”
He said that drug-abuse had now become a common phenomenon, especially among the youth and married women, adding that it could only be checked through consistent sensitisation.
The chairman said the foundation would also educate youths on the importance of ante-natal, the need to reduce maternal deaths and ways to curtail the spread of HIV/AIDS, among others.
“This is because record has shown that Kaduna State is among the leading states with high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.
“It was also reported that the prevalence of the disease in Nigeria is still on the high side as the figure stands at over 18 million, hence the need for intensive campaign to reduce its spread,” he said.
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