NDLEA calls for establishment of drug rehabilitation centre

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Abia has called for a functional rehabilitation centre in Abia to deal with rising cases of drug addicts in the state.

The NDLEA Commander in the state, Mr Bamidele Akingbade, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Aba, Abia, on Tuesday.

Akingbade said that it would be hard to curb addict’s drug habits without the complete treatment and counselling provided through a rehabilitation centre.

"When I met with the governor, he was disposed to having a functional rehabilitation centre in Abia State. And I have sent him a proposal on establishing a centre in the state.

"My argument was that when we arrest these drug users, we do not usually take them to court.

"We are supposed to counsel them while being treated and we keep them for a reasonable number of months to enable them develop coping skills.

"This is done so that when they go out they will know that drug is not good for them and they should not be going for drugs.

"We need to teach them a lot of things that will make them completely withdrawn from these drugs," Akingbade said.

He said that lack of funds and rehabilitation facilities had hindered NDLEA from keeping drug addicts, noting this had made suspects released to return to their old habits.

He said that the project should not be left only for the state government, and urged philanthropists to assist to check the growing habit of hard drug before it becomes late.

Akingbade said that if drug addiction was not tackled on time, "it becomes a huge menace to the society which will cost lots of money and manpower to tackle’’.