Ondo govt harps on danger, seeks partnership to eliminate menace
Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ondo State chapter, has collaborated with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to eliminate the menace of drug abuse among athletes as well as fans in the state.
The NDLEA Commander in the state, Kayode Raji, while expressing concern over the escalating use of drugs within the sports community, said that the situation might end promising careers in the world of sports.
Raji, who spoke during a sensitisation programme held at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Ondo State Sports Complex, Akure, with the theme, “Drug Abuse: Battling A Menace in Nigerian Sports,” lamented that athletes are now prone to illicit drugs due to the growing infiltration of hard substances.
He said: “Drug abuse has destroyed many lives, and it is no longer a distant issue but one that is now prevalent among us. The consequences are limitless. Drug abuse is gradually infiltrating the sports community.
“Preventive measures and support systems are in place, and we are dedicated to ensuring that athletes have the resources and knowledge to avoid the pitfalls of drug abuse.”
On his part, Chairman of SWAN in the state, Segun Giwa, who urged sports’ writers to play active role in raising awareness and educating athletes and the public, called for stronger government’s support and creation of a drug-free sports culture that values hard work, dedication, and fair-play.
“Let us all work together to create a drug-free sports culture in Nigeria. A culture that produces champions who inspire us with their talent, character, and their integrity,” he said.
In his lecture, a senior civil servant in the state, Bunmi Akinsemola, said that performance-enhancement tablets would not help athletes’ careers, but cut them short.
Earlier, the state’s Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, who was represented by his Special Adviser, Daodu Alex, assured of the state government’s readiness to partner with concerned stakeholders and agencies to have a drug-abuse-free society.
