wacommissionondrugs.org
26 November, Abuja - On 26 and 27 November 2015, Commissioners Mary Chinery-Hesse (Ghana) and Adeolu Ogunrombi (Nigeria) will share key findings of the Commission’s report Not Just in Transit: Drugs, the State and Society in West Africa with the Minister of Health, the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Drugs Control and civil society groups.
The visit of the Commissioners follows President Muhammadu Buhari acceptance speech remarks that Nigeria aims to become “a more forceful and constructive player” on global issues, such as countering the global drugs problem.
“The West Africa Commission on Drugs is ready to support Nigeria in this endeavour” says Mary Chinery-Hesse.” “Drug trafficking, consumption and production in Nigeria and beyond can undermine institutions, threaten public health and damage development efforts”.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chair of the West Africa Commission on Drugs, says: “I caution against the militarisation of drug policy in Nigeria and West Africa. The war on drugs has not succeeded, and should not be replicated in Africa. Today, the small fry is caught while the big fish swim free.”
“In line with the findings of our report, we call on Nigeria and the other West African governments to reform drug laws and policies and decriminalise low-level and non-violent drug offences”, says Adeolu Ogunrombi.
“The glaring absence of treatment facilities for drug users fuels the spread of disease and exposes an entire generation, users and non-users alike, to growing public health risks.The current approaches have not delivered solutions and Nigeria too needs to rethink its drug policies,” says Obasanjo.
For further information, please contact Mamadou Diallo at 0905 2913 313 or wacd@kofiannanfoundation.org
SOURCE: Kofi Anan Foundation
KoffiAnnanFoundation.org
No different than anywhere else. The war on drugs must be won by the part public
ReplyDeleteAgree.
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