The Emir of Kano, HRH Muhammad Sanusi II, has called for a coordinated and collective approach involving traditional rulers, religious leaders, parents, youths and community stakeholders to confront the growing challenge of drug and substance abuse in Kano State.
The Emir made the call during a three-day summit on drug abuse organised by the Kano Reformative Centre (KRC) in collaboration with relevant security agencies and civil society organisations. He was represented at the event by the District Head of Shanono, Dr Bashir Muhammad.
In his message, Sanusi described drug abuse as a grave threat to society, warning that the loss of young people to addiction amounts to the loss of families, futures and community stability. He stressed that no single institution or agency can successfully tackle the problem alone, noting that sustainable results can only be achieved through shared responsibility and cooperation.
The monarch urged District Heads, Village Heads, Imams, community leaders, parents and youth groups to take active roles in preventing drug abuse by promoting moral values, strengthening family structures and being vigilant within their communities. He also called for the revival of traditional and cultural value systems as tools for mentoring young people and discouraging destructive behaviours.
Organisers of the summit highlighted the scale of the problem in Kano, revealing that thousands of youths are currently undergoing rehabilitation across government and non-government facilities in the state. They noted that drug abuse has continued to damage families, strain the healthcare system and undermine economic productivity.
Participants at the summit emphasised the need to move beyond enforcement alone by focusing on prevention, awareness, rehabilitation and the reintegration of recovering addicts into society. They also called for the removal of stigma associated with addiction, arguing that victims are more likely to seek help when treated with understanding rather than rejection.
The summit is expected to produce actionable strategies that will deepen collaboration among traditional institutions, religious bodies, security agencies, health professionals and civil society groups in the fight against drug abuse in Kano State.
Abuja Network News