By Kenneth Ehigiator
SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Banole and Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, have expressed outrage over the high number of Nigerians in prisons overseas for drug trafficking. They also frowned on the involvement of Nigerian youths under age 12 in drug abuse.

Speaking at the International Day against Drug Abuse and Trafficking in Abuja, weekend, Bankole condemned the linkage between drugs and crime.

He said: “The illicit drug trade generates hundreds of billions of dollars annually which are transferred and laundered through the global financial system. Drug dealers are, therefore, rich and dangerous. In order to protect their trade and wealth, they are ready to kill or corrupt law enforcement agencies, politicians and professionals who they consider to be obstacles.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, expressed worry over the large number of the nation’s youths involved in drug abuse and trafficking, stressing that the situation required intense control measures by all concerned. He said: “I must confess that I have gone through the facts and figures on the drug situation in the country with consternation. The statistics of people engaging in drug abuse as early as the age of 11 is unbelievable.”