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The Lagos State Government Ministry of Civic Engagement led by The Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Civic Engagement, Princess Aderemi Abowale sensitizes children on the effect of Drug Abuse and Cultism amongst youths on the 19th of May 2021.
In a bid to stop and reduce the alarming rate of Drug Abuse and Cultism in the state, Lagos state government begins a sensitization scheme which educates children on the effect of Drug Abuse and Cultism.
The predominance of cultism in higher institutions across the country has become alarming and it has caused a lot of damages ranging from destruction of academic calendars, loss of lives and properties, unsafe and inhabitable environment within and sometimes outside the school’s vicinity.
In a bid to frontally tackle the evil of cultism in the State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu recently signed the bill for the Prohibition of Unlawful Societies and Cultism of 2021 into law, approving a 21-year jail term for convicted cultists in the State.
According to Mr. Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu “the state had suffered the negative effects of unlawful societies and cultism, stressing that the new law sought to make parents more responsible and show more interest in the upbringing of their children and wards to ensure that they do not become a burden to the society”.
The sensitization was done in 3 senatorial district including Lagos central, Lagos east senatorial district and Lagos west senatorial district.
Speaking to the children on the effects of Drugs abuse and cultism, The Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Civic Engagement, Princess Aderemi Abowale had this to say “My dear students, cultism is one of the social ills that has bedevilled our society for quite some time.
It has become so bad that primary school pupils are reportedly getting initiated into this evil practice.
Cultism has brought nothing but pain and anguish to the affected individuals and society.
Across the country, it is not unusual to hear news of deadly cult wars that left in its trails wanton destruction of properties and sometimes lives.
Such attacks do not portray our society in a positive light. Since development only thrives in a peaceful and conducive environment, the dastardly activities of these cult warriors not only impede development, they also depict our society in bad light.
It has been established by sociologist that there is a nexus between drug abuse and violence, it is therefore important that as a responsible government we cannot fold our arms and allow the lives of our promising youths to degenerate to an abysmal level of critical substances abuse & violence.
A stich in time, they say, saves nine.The passing of the new law by the State House of Assembly as well as the speedy ascent to same by Mr. Governor, no doubt, underscores the government’s resolve to bluntly address the evil of cultism in the state.
Commendably, Lagos State has established a drug-free club and included drug abuse in its school curriculum to target the school pupils/students.
The Lagos state anti-drug war has always attracted support from National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and private sectors as reliable allies.
As I have said earlier, the State Government under the leadership of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu is determined not to allow the menace of drug abuse and cultism fritter away the bright future of our students.
We will ensure that the future of our children is secured by early nipping in the board of the perils of all social vises capable of marring their lives, I urge you student to continue to obey your parents, teachers and shun bad company as this is the only way in which we can support the government efforts to make us successful and civically responsible citizens in the future.
