The Albino Foundation Public Notice
Worried by the incessant menace of drug abuse in Kano, Market Traders Association of Nigeria, (MATAN), Kano state chapter is to collaborate with the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) for the establishment of drugs rehabilitation centres in the three senatorial zones of the state.
The resolution was reached recently when Chairman of the association, Comrade Abba Aminu Imam led other executives on a courtesy visit to the Kano command of NDLEA.
Statement issued by media aide of MATAN, Mustapha Isah Kwaru, revealed that the visit was part of the routine activities of the association to seek partnership from agencies saddled with mandate of ensuring security, enforcement of regulations as well as law and order.
Speaking at the event, Comrade Imam explained that MATAN is an umbrella body of entire traders of Nigeria and those in the diaspora.
He said the visit was primarily geared towards enhancing and sustaining the long cordial relationship that has been existing between the association and NDLEA.
According to him, the platform was equally intended to establish a strong collaboration on how best to tackle the negative effects of the prevailing drug abuse amongst youths and married women, who constituted highest percentage involved in the immoral act.
Towards this end, the MATAN chairman emphasised the need to join forces with the agency through mapping out effective modalities capable of arresting the problem.
The mechanisms, according to him, would be realize by unveiling a formidable and holistic I approach in the areas of rehabilitation and reformation of the drug addicts in order to make. their livelihood more fruitful and beneficial to themselves and the nation at large.
The chairman noted that the set goals can be achieved by establishing rehabilitation and reformation centres across the three senatorial zones where drug addicts would be kept for rehabilitation and reformation activities.
Comrade Imam, who blamed poverty, idleness and unemployment as the principal factors inducing drug addiction among youths, canvassed the support of business community, politicians, investors and other stakeholders to make the rehabilitation centers reality.
The move, he said, would play a critical role towards minimizing crime rates and other social vices in the society.
He added that MATAN would deploy experts to offer entrepreneurship and capacity building training for the the inmates.
Responding, the state NDLEA commander, Alhaji Isa Likita, expressed serious concern over the proliferation of involvement of youths and married women into drug abuse, describing the rate as very alarming.
Alhaji Likita who threw his weight behind the establishment of the drugs rehabilitation centres, also sought the assistance of Kano traders towards the completion of the NDLEA rehabilitation centre project which was put into halt due to financial constraints.
According to him, Kano still remains top in the index of drug abuse nationwide and solicited the support of government and non governmental organisations to Join the crusade against drug abuse to salvage the lives of youths involvement into crimes.
