Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, has declared a public safety emergency on substance abuse, unveiling sweeping executive orders aimed at curbing the trafficking and consumption of illicit drugs across the state.
The executive orders, signed on Wednesday, prohibit the sale, distribution and abuse of illicit substances, as well as the sale of unregistered pharmaceutical products without a valid prescription, in what the government described as one of its most decisive interventions against the growing drug menace.
Under the new directives, movement in communities identified as major centres of drug abuse will be restricted daily from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m., while security agencies have been authorised to stop, search, arrest and prosecute suspected drug traffickers and offenders.
Yusuf also announced that Certificates of Occupancy of properties used for the sale or trafficking of illicit drugs would be revoked as part of measures to dismantle criminal networks operating within the state.
Shortly after signing the executive orders, the governor inaugurated a multi-agency Anti-Substance Abuse Task Force to implement the emergency measures and coordinate enforcement activities.
He said the declaration was backed by the provisions of Section 97A of the Kano State Penal Code Law and Cap 89 of 1991, which empower the state government to take extraordinary steps to address threats to public safety.
Yusuf described substance abuse as one of the greatest threats confronting Kano, saying the widespread consumption of illicit drugs among young people has contributed significantly to rising violent crimes, family disintegration, economic hardship and social instability.
According to him, the newly inaugurated task force has been mandated to identify, map and dismantle hideouts of Daba gangs, destroy drug dens and reclaim areas serving as criminal enclaves across the state.
He said the committee has also been empowered to arrest, detain and prosecute gang leaders, members, sponsors and financiers involved in illicit drug trafficking.
Yusuf pledged full government support for the task force, promising adequate funding, operational vehicles, office accommodation, logistics and security backing while guaranteeing its operational independence.
He added that the committee would coordinate intelligence gathering, law enforcement operations, public awareness campaigns, rehabilitation initiatives and collaboration with security agencies and other stakeholders to tackle the drug crisis comprehensively.
Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, chairman of the Anti-Substance Abuse Task Force, thanked the governor for the confidence reposed in him and other members of the committee.
Rimingado assured residents that the task force would carry out its assignment with integrity, professionalism and without compromise.
He said members of the committee were fully aware of the magnitude of their responsibility and would work closely with security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, educational institutions and community leaders to combat drug abuse and restore lasting peace in Kano.
He expressed confidence that the task force would significantly reduce drug-related crimes and improve public safety across the state.
The task force comprises representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), as well as members drawn from civil society organisations, traditional institutions, religious bodies and the business community.
