The National Orientation Agency (NOA), Kano State Directorate, has pledged to partner with the Kano State Multi-Joint Task Force on Drug Abuse and Other Related Crimes to intensify public sensitization and community-based campaigns against drug abuse and related criminal activities across the state.
The commitment was made during a courtesy visit by officials of the agency to the Chairman of the Task Force, Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, in Kano.
Speaking during the visit, the representative of the NOA State Director, Hajiya Mero Idi Waziri, congratulated the leadership of the task force on its inauguration and commended the Kano State Government for establishing the committee to tackle the growing challenge of drug abuse and other related crimes.
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She expressed appreciation to the task force for including the National Orientation Agency among the institutions participating in the initiative, assuring that the agency would deploy its extensive grassroots structures to support the committee’s activities.
According to her, the agency has operational structures in all the 44 local government areas of Kano State, making it well-positioned to drive awareness campaigns and mobilise communities against drug abuse.
She also said the agency would make its Special Marshals available to support community engagement, public enlightenment and other outreach activities aimed at preventing substance abuse.
“We are ready to extend the committee’s activities to the local government areas and beyond, leveraging our structures to reach communities where prevention and awareness are required most,” she said.
Responding, the Chairman of the Task Force, Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, described drug abuse as a serious social and security challenge that requires a united response from government institutions, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations and members of the public.
He said the task force would continue to discharge its responsibilities professionally and without discrimination, stressing that anyone found culpable of drug-related offences would face the law regardless of status or influence.
“Whoever is found guilty will be treated without fear or favour,” Muhuyi said.
He noted that while the committee would pursue drug traffickers, their collaborators and criminal networks through intelligence-led operations and enforcement, it would equally place emphasis on preventive measures through sustained public education and community mobilisation.
According to him, enforcement alone cannot solve the drug problem, making sensitisation and awareness creation critical components of the task force’s overall strategy.
The meeting also outlined areas of collaboration between the task force and the National Orientation Agency.
These include community sensitisation campaigns across the 44 local government areas of the state using NOA’s grassroots structures, awareness programmes targeting schools, religious institutions and youth organisations, as well as the deployment of NOA Special Marshals to support public enlightenment and community outreach.
Both parties agreed to maintain close collaboration in implementing programmes aimed at reducing drug abuse, curbing illicit drug trafficking and preventing other related crimes across Kano State.
The meeting ended with a commitment to develop a joint schedule of activities that would integrate enforcement, prevention and community participation in support of the state government’s efforts to address drug abuse and strengthen public safety.