Above 1 million killer patent medicine stores exists across Nigeria. The Chairman of Presidential Advisory Committee on elimination of drug abuse stated this in Yola on Monday in a courtesy visit to Gov. Muhammadu Bindow of Adamawa state.
” So far, there are over one million unregistered and killer patent medicine stores across Nigeria. ” Also only about 58,000 of such stores are registered in 36 states and Abuja,” Marwa said.
Expressing his worries at the rate of drug abuse across Nigeria, he added that there is need for joint effort to eliminate the menace.
Marwa noted that about 22% of the 15 million people in under drugs in Nigeria are from the southwest zone, 17% from the south-south zone and 15 % from the southeast. Northeast has 13.8% of the entire population with north-central having 8% of the 15 million adults with drug problem in Nigeria.
Marwa encouraged the state Governors to ensure the availability of rehabilitation centres.
Gov. Bindow responded saying that the drug abuse rate in Nigeria is alarming. He further thanked the president for creating such committee and advised the country to declare state of emergency on drug abuse.
