The North-West Development Commission, NWDC, has commended the Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Practices for the significant gains recorded in the fight against drug abuse, and expressed readiness to collaborate on regional solutions to tackle the menace across the North-West.
The commendation was made during a courtesy visit Wednesday in Kano by the Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Practices led by its Chairman, Barrister Muhiyi Magaji Remin-gado, to the management of NWDC.
Speaking during the meeting, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NWDC, Professor Shehu Abdullahi Ma’aji, said drug abuse has become a major driver of insecurity, poverty, and youth restiveness in the region.
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Abdulrashid Yusuf Safana, the Director of Press and Public Relations of the NWDC disclosed this in a statement sent to GLOBAL TRACKER.
According to the statement, “The North-West cannot achieve its development goals if a generation of our young people is lost to drug abuse. The data before us is alarming, and the link between drug abuse and the double rise in gun violence is now clear to all of us,” Prof. Ma’aji stated.
Briefing the Commission, Barr. Rimingado disclosed that within 45 days of inauguration, the Task Force recorded a milestone success resulting in over 200 raids across vulnerable communities,
over 200 convictions, with some offenders sentenced to up to 10 years imprisonment as well as
recovery of dangerous weapons and exhibits; adding that 120 of the most critical and vulnerable offenders are currently undergoing rehabilitation in two correctional and reformatory centers.
Rimingado maitained that the approach of the Kano State Government is two-pronged: aggressive law enforcement and mass rehabilitation.
“Government did not set up this committee only to arrest and prosecute. If we jail them for 10 years and release them back to the streets with no reform, we have achieved nothing. That is why we are removing the most vulnerable from the streets and putting them in reformatories,” Barr. Rimingado said.
In his response, Prof. Ma’aji assured that NWDC will integrate drug prevention, rehabilitation, and youth empowerment into its regional development blueprint for Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara States.
“At NWDC, our mandate is to rebuild the North-West. That means building infrastructure, but also rebuilding people. We will work with the Task Force and other stakeholders to expand rehabilitation centers, provide skills acquisition, and create jobs as alternatives to crime,” he added.
Professor Ma’aji expressed gratitude to the Executive Governor of Kano State, His Excellency Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf over his unwavering support to the Commission, and for establishing the Multi-Agency Task Force to fight the menace of drug abuse in the state. “This particular initiative is a testament to the Governor’s concern for Youths welfare and development” Professor Ma’aji said.
The meeting was also attended by Engr. Rufa’i Ahmad, Board Member representing the North Central.
The Commission called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, CSOs, and parents to join the campaign against drug abuse, noting that “security and development must go together.”
The North-West Development Commission was established to drive infrastructure development, human capital investment, and peace-building initiatives across the seven North-West states.