The Drug-Free Arewa Movement (DFAM) has issued a stark warning that drug trafficking and substance abuse are “silently slaughtering the future” of Northern Nigeria, calling on regional leaders to treat the crisis as a national emergency.
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In his Eid-el-Kabir message on Friday in Abuja, DFAM Lead Convener Ibrahim Yusuf stressed the devastating impact of addiction on the region’s youth. “This menace has paralyzed development, encouraged social vices, and sparked mental health crises,” Yusuf said, urging immediate, coordinated action to curb the epidemic.
According to DFAM’s official statement, the organization is partnering with schools, religious institutions, and community groups to implement evidence-based prevention and rehabilitation programs. Yusuf specifically appealed to the Northern Governors’ Forum, the Council of Traditional Rulers, and civil society leaders to reintegrate out-of-school children, establish rehabilitation centers, and create real economic opportunities for young people.
“Drug abuse does not discriminate based on ethnicity, politics, or religion,” Yusuf declared. “It is a monster that invades homes, schools, streets, and places of worship.”
DFAM has outlined four key recommendations:
Reintegration programs for vulnerable youth
School-based drug prevention curricula
Community rehabilitation centers
Economic empowerment initiatives
Yusuf invoked the legacies of Sir Ahmadu Bello and Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, highlighting their emphasis on unity and visionary leadership. “Northern leaders must honor those legacies by safeguarding our youth,” he said.
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Family members and women’s groups welcomed DFAM’s call, but some critics argue that governmental inertia and inadequate funding threaten meaningful progress. DFAM insists that without urgent collaboration across all sectors—political, traditional, religious, and civil society—the region risks losing an entire generation to addiction and hopelessness.
The movement concluded with a direct appeal to individuals struggling with substance abuse: “You can quit! DFAM is here to help,” Yusuf affirmed, pledging free counseling hotlines and community outreach programs.
As Northern Nigeria marks Eid-el-Kabir, DFAM’s urgent plea underscores that the drug crisis demands more than rhetoric—it requires immediate, sustained action to secure the region’s future.
#DFAM #DrugFreeArewa #DrugAbuseCrisis #NorthernNigeria #YouthEmpowerment #AddictionPrevention #EidElKabir #PublicHealth
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