Corruption, Drug Abuse Impede National, Socioeconomic Growth, Development – Stakeholders

Corruption and drug abuse are impediments of socio-economic, national growth and development anywhere in the world.

Against this background, no country would achieve optimal social well-being of its citizenry and attain considerable development level with corruption and indulgence in illicit drug.

This was the message at a workshop organised by Centre for Sustained Dialogue & Dialogue 365 in Osogbo, Osun state capital in commemoration of International Anti-Corruption day.

The workshop brought together stakeholders from different spheres of life to discuss social implications of corruption and drug addiction – the way forward towards a better society.

One of the guest speakers and the Chief Whip of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Olatunde Olatunji who spoke on Youths, Drug and Crime in Nigeria – Lawmaker Perspective, said the said youths now abuse drugs demands urgent response from government, relevant stakeholders and law enforcement agencies.

Hon. Olatunji emphasised the need to strengthen drug law enforcement agencies to be able to perform optimally, by prosecuting defaulters in order to discourage young Nigerians from engaging in the illicit act.

He equally called for the involvement of community leaders, social groups and other relevant institutions in the advocacy against drug abuse among the youth.

Another speaker, Dr. Dayo Sobowale stated that corruption has adversely affected growth and development in the nation.

Dr. Sobowale averred that shunning corruption in all ramifications would do the country and the citizenry a lot of good in terms of social well-being and development of infrastructural facilities.

The convener, Center for Sustained Dialogue & Dialogue 365, Comrade Waheed Saka chronicled how drug abuse aided perpetration of crime and criminality especially during the recent EndSARS protest that engulfed the whole country hence, the need to discuss the way out.

Comrade Saka also pointed out that absence of discussion between the government and the people sparked the massive looting that greeted government and private facilities by angry and hungry youths in search of CACOVID palliatives donated to States of the Federation.

He canvassed for aggressive sensitization on the dangers of corruption, drug consumption and their attendant effects on social well-being and socio-economic growth and development of the country.

The International Anti Corruption Day is observed globally on December 9 every year to raise awareness on corruption and the need to combat it.

This year’s theme was “Recover with lntegrity”.