NDLEA appeals to entertainment industries to stop promoting drug abuse contents in presentation
By Ifeoma Ikem
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retired), has advised those in the entertainment industry against promoting drug abuse through the contents to the public.
Marwa gave the advice in Lagos, during the conference organised by NDLEA Celebrity Drug Free Club to mark the 2022 International Day Against Illicit drug Abuse and trafficking.
The theme, tagged: Best Approach to Drug Control: The Role of Entertainment Industry Practitioners.
NDLEA boss was represented by Mr Segun Okeh, Zone H Commander, noted that there were many approaches in checking drug abuse, stressing that the entertainment industry was one important channel to reach large number of persons, particularly, the youths on the danger of drug abuse.
“We need to appeal to the entertainment industry practitioners not to send wrong message that has drug abuse contents in your cast, script, presentation on the screen.
” You must watch properly the contents while processing entertainment to the public. There is the tendency for the young mind to believe that what they see in entertainment is real.
“It is our wish that the entertainment industry practitioners will join NDLEA for enlightenment and fight against drug abuse,” he said.
The Commissioner of police in Lagos state, CP Abiodun Alabi commended the club for the event, stressing that the entertainment industry practitioners have a lot to do to check drug abuse in the society due to their large followership.
Alabi, who was represented by CSP Gbenga Stephen, noted that there was an increase in drug abuse, which had led to many crimes.
Mr Wilson Ighodalo, leader of the club, said that the conference was designed to harness the enormous potential in the creative industry in promoting evidence based approach to drug abuse in Nigeria.
Ighodalo commended NDLEA under Buba Marwa for the feats recorded against illicit drug, emphasized that the main aimed of the conference was to have a community intervention programme against drug abuse.
He lament about the high level of drug abuse by females, saying that out of four drug users, one was a female.
Also notes that one of major community intervention programme was the need for massive investment in health to take care of drug users and youths participation in advocacy against drug abuse at community level.
Gbenga Adeyinka,a Comedianne said that some celebrities were promoting drug abuse through their contents in songs, videos and shows.
According to him,i will also blamed security agencies that had refused to bring such entertainers to book, to show as a deterrent to others.
Another comedian, Koffi De Guru, said government was not involved in the development of the entertainment industry.
He stated that the NDLEA and National Broadcasting Commission should be blamed for allowing some contents in the radio and television stations.
Other guest at the conference were,
Mr Victor Osuagwu, Ozybeco,Halima Abubakar and school children
