By ABBAS BAMALLI

The Commander, 17 Brigade Nigeria Army, Katsina, Brig.-Gen Babatunde Omopariola, says drug addiction is draining Nigeria’s workforce and endangering its future.

The commander, therefore, urged the personnel to confront and report any soldier caught smoking weed.

Omopariola disclosed this in Katsina on Saturday, at the 2025 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL), held at the brigade’s officers’ mess.

He warned officers and men of the brigade against use of illicit drugs, especially within the barracks.

The commander identified drug abuse as a destructive force eroding both the social and medical foundations of the country.

“We must be ready to take decisive action against anyone found guilty if we truly want a drug-free society,” he advocated.

He urged parents and guardians to intervene early in their children’s lives, stressing that drug habits often begin at a tender age.

The general also debunked the misguided belief that soldiers need to use drugs to perform courageously, declaring: “You don’t need to smoke weed to perform. Are we not fearless? Are we not bold?”

Omopariola emphasised that the fight against drugs was vital for national productivity, public health, and social stability.

The guest lecturer at the event, Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim, a senior official of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), attributed the insecurity situation in some parts of the country to the influence of drugs.

“There is no terrorism, no banditry, no prostitution, no ritual killings that does not have drug abuse at its root,” she said.

She dismissed the often-used excuse that unemployment leads to drug use, saying: “There are unemployed people living decent, drug-free lives. Joblessness is not an excuse to do drugs.”

Ibrahim further educated the audience on the dangers of both legal and illegal substances, explaining that “even kola nuts, tea, and coffee can alter mood, hence they can be drugs also.”

She criticised the misuse of over-the-counter drugs and revealed that many Nigerians still gain illegal access to controlled substances such as Rohypnol and Pentazocine.

The NDLEA official urged the nation to treat drug abuse not merely as a crime but as a public health crisis, saying: “We must raise a national consciousness.

“It demands a collaborative effort from the government, civil society organisations, families, and individuals.” (NAN)