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Yesterday at the plenary, I sponsored a motion on the urgent need for safety regulations against content-promoting consumption of illicit drugs/substances in new and social media as well as the broadcast media.
The abuse of drugs and other substances and associated crime have driven a considerable rise in the number of youths imprisoned in recent years. A report by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) in Nigeria indicates that 14.4% (14.3 million) of persons aged between 15 and 64 years abuse drugs. Drug and substance abuse is prevalent across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Most entertainment celebrities have made it a culture to display drug-related clips on their various social media platforms and music videos, which makes efforts against drug abuse almost impossible to progress in the manner desired because most of the young people in the country follow these artists and celebrities on social media and seek to replicate their lifestyles.
Big Brother Naija and other entertainment content producers have also made it a culture to promote drug abuse-related content in their various reality shows and other media content.
Note that this Motion on the regulation against exposure to drug abuse content on social media, music videos, movies, and other media contents doesn’t seek to infringe on individual rights to live as they desire, but rather, it seeks to limit exposure to drug abuse related contents on media space, especially on social media, music videos, skits, and movies.
One of the prayers of the Hon. House is urging the National Assembly to amend the NDLEA Act to include all other drugs/substances including liquor, etc in addition to Tobacco as prohibited and as well include the new and broadcast media as part of the public places where they are all prohibited
The motion was co-sponsored by Hon. Abdullahi Halidu Danbaba @HonDanbaba
and Hon. Ogunniyi David Seun @davniyi
