By Deji Abdulwahab

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Food and Cultural Festival has urged leaders of ECOWAS countries to intensify efforts to reduce drug abuse and illicit trafficking on the continent.

Its Country Representative and Director-General, Amb. Felix Ihonre, made the call at the national stakeholders preparatory meeting, in observance of the 2024 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2024 edition, which has  “Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention” as its theme, is globally observed on June 26.

Ihonre, therefore,  said ECOWAS leaders should see the issue of drug abuse and illicit trafficking as a thing that promotes violence, insurgency and banditry, saying that once they are addressed, there would be peace around ECOWAS.

He added that “we are calling on our leaders, heads of states and governments of the ECOWAS countries to intensify efforts with high level commitment to reducing drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

“Once drug abuse and illicit trafficking are reduced, violence will be reduced because most of the things that stimulate violence are drugs and it is difficult for you to have a violent agitator that does not take drug.

“So, we want a situation where the Federal Government of Nigeria and her fellow 14 member countries of ECOWAS, as well as their development partners around the world see the issue of drug abuse and illicit trafficking as a thing that is promoting violence, insurgency and banditry.

“Once all these things are addressed, I think there will peace around ECOWAS.”

According to him, there is need to provide peace in farm settlements to ensure increased food cultivation in the country.

He urged government to see the issue of food and crop production as an alternative to drug and crime prevention.

Ihonre said that the theme of the 2024 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking — “Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention” was apt.

He added that “if we must prevent drug abuse, illicit trafficking and any kind of abuses, the first thing we must put on the table first is food. People have to feed, hunger prevention is a way of alleviating poverty.

“Hunger prevention is a way of keeping people busy to fight the issue of drug. Secondly, drugs such as cocaine, marijuana and others are things that are being produced by some farmers.”

The director-general, therefore,  urged government and stakeholders in the agric sector to concentrate more on food production by encouraging farmers to plant more.

This, he said, would prevent people from producing drugs or engaging in trafficking in drugs. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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