Pubdate: Thu, 06 Nov 2003
Source: This Day (Nigeria)
Copyright: 2003 This Day.
Contact:  http://www.thisdayonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2870
Author: Efem Nkanga

MINISTER DECRIES DRUG ABUSE BY YOUTH

Minister of Women Affairs and Youth development,Obong Rita Akpan, has 
lamented the spate of drug use by youths in the country.

She said that in a bid to fight the menace, the International Labour 
Organisation (ILO) is to establish a rehabilitation center for children and 
young adults invovled in drug trafficking in Akwa Ibom state.

Obong Akpan, who disclosed this in Uyo, reiterated that it is difficult to 
ascertain the exact number of children and young adults involved in the 
trafficking of drugs because according to her "drug trafficking is a hidden 
and secretive business".

Akpan called on the Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly to duplicate the 
"Child rights Bill"in the state by passing it into law, adding that the 
Assembly members need to be well informed about the Bill and the exigencies 
of child abuse and trafficking in the state so that traffickers could be 
made to face the full weight of the law at Federal level.

She added that children who are victims of child abuse are dysfunctional 
and reiterated that those involved should be brought to book.
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