ASABA/Nigeria: In a renewed effort to curb the rising wave of drug abuse among youths, the Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty Prof. Epiphany Azinge, SAN, has been commended for establishing the Asaba Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation Committee, a palace-led initiative aimed at tackling substance abuse across the capital city.
The commendation came from the Director-General of the Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communication, Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, when he received members of the committee in his Asaba office. Dr. Oghenesivbe described the effort as timely and critical, citing alarming statistics which showed that over 500,000 residents between the ages of 15 and 65 in Delta State engaged in illicit drug use in 2023 alone.
He expressed deep concern about the devastating impact of drug abuse on families, communities, and the broader society, pledging the Bureau’s full support in expanding sensitization campaigns. “With our combined efforts, we can create a brighter future for our youths,” he said, while emphasizing the NDLEA’s recent call for mandatory drug testing for students seeking college admissions.
Dr. Oghenesivbe also applauded Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s commitment to building a “Drug Free Delta” through the establishment of rehabilitation centers in Kwale and Agbor and the launch of War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) clubs in schools. He revealed that the second phase of the state-wide campaign would soon target 58 secondary schools and all tertiary institutions across the state.
Chairperson of the Asaba Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation Committee, Obi Nwanyi Ajufoh, said the initiative, formed by the Asagba of Asaba, is focused on saving lives through grassroots education. She revealed that the community was overwhelmed by rising cases of addiction, especially among youths, and called on the government to upscale its awareness efforts across Asaba and surrounding communities.
Also speaking, NDLEA State Deputy Commander, Victor Isibor, disclosed that over 1,000 kilograms of assorted drugs were seized and nearly 600 suspects arrested in the first half of 2025 alone. He stressed that drug users should be treated as patients, not criminals, and disclosed that the agency had counseled nearly 400 individuals and rehabilitated many others this year.
The event marked a collaborative milestone in Delta State’s war against drug abuse and was attended by representatives of the NDLEA, Nigeria Police Force, National Orientation Agency, and other key stakeholders.
