DRUG addiction and substance abuse in Nigeria has become an epidemic, especially among the youth. As Nigeria joined the world to mark the Drug Abuse Awareness Day last week, the burden of drug abuse and addiction calls for sober reflection because of its magnitude.

The tanker explosion on the Michael Otedola Bridge outbound Lagos on Thursday June 28, 2018 which claimed at least nine lives and destroyed 50 vehicles was obviously an offshoot of a faulty juggernaut laden with petrol. Reports have it that the vehicle could not complete the action of climbing the bridge and had to roll back and hence the tragedy.

We would like to believe that this disclosure was meant to fly a kite and test the waters of public opinion as to whether Nigerians are supportive of the so-called MOU. If that is the case, then let it be known that no MOU signed with any foreign country with regard to the spending of Nigeria’s public funds can override the constitution and the laws of the country.

There is still so much hunger, unemployment, poor power supply and insecurity linked to insurgency, herdsmen’s attacks and criminal banditry. A large number of people who operate in the agricultural sector has been displaced and the law-enforcement agents appear unable to cope.

Already, some of the states listed for the pilot programme, such as Ebonyi and Benue, have rejected it outright. Also, the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, SMBLF, has issued a statement rebuffing the proposal. These are clear signs that this manner of pursuing the ranching programme will not promote peace in the states where it is being rejected.