Stakeholders in Ekiti State have intensified calls for urgent and coordinated measures to address the growing impact of substance abuse on families and communities, with renewed emphasis on the need to establish rehabilitation centres across the state.
The appeal was made during the “BAO for Healthy Families Outreach” held at the King’s Palace Town Hall in Efon-Alaaye, where government officials, health professionals, traditional leaders, and community stakeholders gathered to highlight the dangers of drug abuse and promote preventive action.
Representing Governor Biodun Oyebanji, Chief of Staff Niyi Adebayo described substance abuse as a critical societal challenge with far-reaching consequences. He urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant, particularly when children display unusual behavioural patterns, noting that early intervention can help prevent long-term damage.
In her remarks, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Olapeju Babafemi, said the outreach was designed to address the widespread health and social implications of substance abuse. She explained that the initiative, organised in collaboration with the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dayo Apata, aligns with the administration’s commitment to human capital development and family welfare.
Babafemi emphasised that substance abuse contributes to health complications, family breakdown, disrupted education, and rising crime rates, while noting that recovery remains achievable with timely and appropriate support.
Providing medical insight, Consultant Gastroenterologist Deji Ajayi warned that drug abuse can lead to severe health conditions, including addiction, organ damage, and cancers affecting the liver, lungs, and digestive system. He stressed that prevention remains the most effective strategy and advocated the urgent establishment of rehabilitation centres in the state.
Also speaking, Clinical Psychologist Dotun Ajiboye explained that prolonged use of alcohol and psychoactive substances alters brain function, resulting in dependency, impaired judgment, and emotional instability. He added that substance abuse often fuels domestic violence, neglect, and economic hardship, underscoring the importance of early psychological intervention.
Addiction Physician Abayomi Oshatimi highlighted that effective treatment requires structured processes such as detoxification, therapy, and medication. He noted that recovery is gradual and requires sustained support, while also calling for reduced stigma, which often discourages affected individuals from seeking help.
In his address, Attorney General Dayo Apata described substance abuse as “the mother of all abuses,” citing its far-reaching impact on individuals’ mental, physical, and economic wellbeing. He warned that drug abuse has cost many young people employment opportunities and stressed the need for sustained public awareness and collective action.
The State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Sunday Aina, expressed concern over the absence of a functional rehabilitation centre in the state. He called for urgent government intervention, noting that substance abuse remains a global issue closely linked to crime and social instability.
Community stakeholders also pledged support. Speaking on behalf of the Efon Development League, Kola Ajumobi said the group would integrate drug abuse awareness into youth-focused programmes.
Other contributors, including Head of Service Folakemi Olomojobi and former Commissioner for Culture, Arts and Tourism Ronke Okusanya, described the outreach as timely and urged parents to closely monitor their children, warning that involvement in hard drugs undermines future prospects.
The traditional ruler of the community, Emmanuel Adesanya Aladejare, commended the initiative and pledged continued support for programmes promoting a healthy and progressive society. Similarly, the Chief Whip of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Bose Olowokere, assured sustained legislative backing for such interventions.
The event attracted a broad spectrum of participants, including government officials, market women, students, artisans, transport workers, civil society organisations, and security agencies.
Stakeholders unanimously agreed that tackling substance abuse requires a multi-sectoral approach involving government institutions, families, and communities, alongside policies that prioritise prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.
