Opinion II Today June 26 is, Int'l Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

COMMEMORATING THE INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST DRUG ABUSE AND ILLICIT TRAFFICKING

     

 June 26 annually, the global community commemorates the 2017 edition of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The day is being observed by all the United Nations (UN) Member States towards sensitizing the general public on the evitable dangers inherent in drug abuse and its illegal trafficking, and how the societal cankerworm can be holistically crucified.

       

The day was established by law in the year 1987 by the United Nations (UN) following the unanimous resolution reached on 7^th December 1987 by its General Assembly. The said Assembly decided to observe June 26 of every year as the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation in order to achieve the goal of seeing an International Society that is totally free from all forms of drug abuse.

                              

The last time I checked, one of the optimum desires of any society in a sober state was to experience a serene and tranquil atmosphere, and the Nigerian society isn’t exceptional. In other words, every man’s paramount desire is to embrace a trouble-free environment or atmosphere since every society is comprised at least a man. This significantly means that a Nigerian, on the average, looks forward to embracing a Nigerian society that can wholly boast of a trouble-free environment.

      

An abuse, in a nutshell, can be described as a misuse of anything whilst drug is any substance used as a medicine or an illegal substance taken for its stimulating and other effects. Thus, drug abuse is simply the misuse of a substance used either as a medicine or stimulant. On its part, illicit drug trafficking is an act involving an illegal trading in drugs or other related substances forbidden by law.

       

Considering the above definitions, apparently drug abuse is a social ill that involves two distinct dimensions. It could be the misuse of a substance used as a medicine or the improper intake of medicine by an individual. Secondly, it could be the intake or misuse of a stimulant that’s not supported by law such as cocaine, cannabis, marijuana, and Indian helm, just to mention but a few. The former is often as a result of ignorance or negligence, while the latter is wholly a criminal and illegal act, and appears to be more dangerous to both human and animal health compare to the former.

       

Prior to the resolution for an International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in 1987, the UN General Assembly understood that in spite of the continual and increasing efforts by the international community, the global drug predicament continued to constitute a severe threat to public health, the safety and well-being of humanity especially the young people, and the national security and sovereignty of States thereby undermining the socio-economic and political stability of the affected nations.

       

Thereafter the resolution was reached, the Assembly encouraged the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to continue its work on International Drug Control, and went further to urge all governments to provide the fullest possible financial cum political assistance to enable the organization (UNODC) actualize its objectives. The UNODC recognizes that the effort of every stakeholder and corporate body is required toward actualizing the prime motive of this commemoration.

       

To this end, as the world celebrates this remarkable day, I call on governments, NGOs, religious bodies, civil societies, medical experts, every concerned law enforcement agency, the media, and all well-meaning individuals across the globe, particularly Nigeria, to do everything humanly possible to raise awareness of the unquantifiable harm caused by drug abuse and its illicit trafficking.

      

We can contribute our respective quotas by ensuring that anyone caught in the act is reported to the apt quarter as soon as possible to enable the law act aptly as requested. Similarly, the Traditional Rulers can be of vital help by fishing out the bad eggs in their midst regarding drug abuse and thereafter drag them to the nearby police station for onward prosecution.

      

In regard to self-medication and other forms of drug abuse attributed to ignorance or lack of orientation, a thorough awareness campaign on the dangers of intake of drugs without the consent of a qualified physician ought to be embarked on by every relevant organization such as the civil society and religious institutions, and every avenue including the mass media should be used to reach out to the general public.

      

The plight occasioned by illicit trafficking cannot be adequately addressed without the candid and thorough involvement of such concerned authorities as the Nigerian Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS). The former must ensure that their personnel are equally mounted on our various major roads toward ensuring that various vehicles as well as travellers are duly checked if necessary; the latter ought to equally endeavour to work hand-in-hand with the former at the various borders toward attaining accuracy and efficiency.

      

Both agencies shouldn’t hesitate, either individually or collectively, to prosecute any suspect no matter whose ox is gored to serve as a deterrent to other intending traffickers. Above all, the Ministry of Interior must ensure that all the relevant agencies or commissions are living up to the expectations, come rain come shine.    

      

On their part, the individuals or group of persons abusing the drugs should also help themselves. They ought to acknowledge the fact that misuse of medicine such as self-medication, consumption of medicine without consulting an apt medical expert, and intake of over/under dose contrary to the doctor’s prescription, are all a death-trap that could take one’s life unannounced.

      

Those who take hard drugs or the ones the law forbids, which invariably lead to anxiety, panic, depression, brain fag or damage of brain cells, mental imbalance, protracted illnesses, death, or what have you, should note that the ongoing restrictions as stipulated by law are solely for the sake of their well-being. On their part, those involved in the illegal cultivation, production, or trafficking of the hard drugs ought to be aware that many have lost their precious lives in the process while many are presently rotting in jail.

       

Though most of these hard drugs are very useful raw-materials often used in several firms to manufacture a quite number of useful products or finished goods, the obvious fact remains that we’re not meant to consume them when they are still in their raw states. Thus, we must be very conscious of this assertion irrespective of the circumstance we find ourselves.

       

There is also need for us to acknowledge that absolute decency is required while consuming those stimulants that are not forbidden by law such as snuff popularly known as ‘Utaba’, cigarette, cigar, whisky, dry gin otherwise referred to as ‘Kai-Kai’, et cetera. We are required to comport ourselves in whatever action we take or while exercising any lifestyle, so that, our paramount desire of embracing a trouble-free and tranquil society would be duly actualized. Think about it!

          

Comrade FDN Nwaozor

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-Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Clinic - Owerri

Opinion I Today June 23 is, Int'l Widows' Day!!

CONFRONTING ONGOING VULNERABILITY OF WIDOWHOOD AS THE WORLD MARKS THE 2017 INTERNATIONAL WIDOWS’ DAY ON FRIDAY JUNE 23

        

Today, June 23, the world over is commemorating the annual International Widows’ Day as stipulated and observed by the United Nations (UN). The International Widows’ Day is a UN ratified day of action to address the poverty and injustice faced by millions of widows and their dependents in many countries. 

        

The day was established in 2005 by Raj Loomba. The establishment was made under the aegis of The Loomba Foundation to raise awareness of the issue of widowhood, which was thereafter formally adopted and duly approved on 21^st December 2010 by the United Nations’ General Assembly. The theme of this year’s commemoration is ‘Never alone’, which is targeted towards letting any widow realize that she is not standing alone regardless of the circumstance.

        

Though anywhere in the world, anyone found in a state of widowhood is regarded as a less-privileged because his/her partner in whom he/she is well pleased has departed for eternity. In Africa, particularly Nigeria, the most devastating aspect of widowhood is when a woman is passing through the ordeal.

         

In Nigeria for instance, on the average, a widow irrespective of her status, is severely molested, intimidated as well as humiliated. The major plight faced by a widow in this part of the world is deprivation of her late husband’s properties or possessions by her teeming in-laws. In this case, she would be banned from making use of anything belonging to the deceased, thereby making her appear like a mere slave in her matrimonial home.

          

In most cases, the widow in question would be accused of being responsible for her husband’s demise without minding the severe psychological pains and agony she is passing through. In some quarters, to prove her innocence, the poor widow would be mandated by the accusers to drink the water used in washing her late husband’s corpse; a practice that obviously seems highly irrational and barbaric.

         

To worsen the matter, she might even be sent out of her matrimonial home as if she was not legitimately married to the deceased. Even if she begot a child for the deceased, she would be asked to leave with the child for her parental home. It’s worth noting that this aspect of intimidation can make the sufferer commit suicide unannounced owing to the gravity of ignominy attached to the ordeal. 

          

Most pathetically, based on the locality, a widow may be subjected to marry her late husband’s sibling, which is often referred to by the perpetrators as ‘customary or ethical’. Funnily enough, the so-called prospective husband of the widow may even be a married man or sometimes an imbecile.

          

As Nigeria joins the global community to commemorate the International Widows’ Day, we must acknowledge that in our respective capacities, we have vital roles to play towards ensuring that these ugly ubiquitous melodramas as regards humiliation of widows are totally eradicated. We can assist in the ongoing campaign by ensuring that in our respective jurisdictions, a widow is not treated unjustly.

         

Similarly, every widow should be conscientized on the need to fight for her right irrespective of the circumstance. Widowers should equally be supported in any possible way in order to keep them away from any form of emotional or psychological trauma.

         

The civil rights lawyers shouldn’t hesitate to pursue any legal case regarding widowhood that’s brought to their chambers even if the plaintiff lacks the financial muscle. In the same vein, the civil society as well as the religious bodies ought to put up a holistic sensitization toward making the general public understand the repercussion of treating a widow or widower, as the case may be, unjustly.

         

The widows on their part are required to form a formidable coalition in any locality they find themselves to enable them possess one voice towards tackling any form of maltreatment they are usually faced. By so doing, they can assist each other in solving any predicament.   
           

They, particularly the less privileged ones, should equally desist from exercising despair. It’s no doubt very painful for one’s marriage/life partner to depart eternally, but that shouldn’t make the victim of such circumstance see it as the end of the world. So, such circumstance shouldn’t make them resort to any act, such as prostitution and begging, that would ridicule their persons. Rather, they ought to absorb it as one of the inevitable challenges nature brings, thereby making them appear stronger both physically and psychologically. Think about it!

Comrade FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Clinic - Owerri

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frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

Twitter: @mediambassador 

  

Opinion I Fuel Subsidy Removal Policy: So Far, How Far?

THE FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL POLICY: SO FAR, HOW FAR?

         

Oil subsidy is a certain sum of money paid by the government on petroleum products towards reducing the cost of refining the said commodities as well as their transportation back to the country, in order to lessen the financial burden on the final consumers.

         

The bitter truth is that Nigeria is immensely blessed with petroleum resources but over the decades, the country could not boast of a single functional refinery that would help in refining the natural resources; hence, the raw materials are being taken to foreign nations by oil marketers to be refined and afterwards, imported into the country for consumption.

        

This implies that intriguingly, the country had been involved in importation of products that were meant to be exported to various other nations. So, in order to cushion the expected high cost of the commodities, the Federal Government (FG) had to implement the Oil Subsidy Policy.

         

Over the years, the Nigerian citizenry enjoyed oil subsidy till the emergence of the President Mohammadu Buhari – led administration that thought it wise to totally reverse the policy with a view to boosting the country’s downstream sector. The downstream sector ensures that the country boasts of functional and adequate refineries managed by either the government or private investors.

          

The moment the All Progressives Congress (APC) came into power, the FG rigorously and vehemently sold the idea of oil/fuel subsidy removal to the teeming Nigerians. It took reasonable time to make them comprehend how beneficial the proposed policy would be to all and sundry regardless of class. The citizens were equally meant to note that the oil subsidy policy was only to the benefit of a few individuals in the country, particularly the oil dealers.

          

The FG pointed out that the proposed Oil Subsidy Removal policy, when fully implemented, would help to generate additional revenue that would be used to boost the overall infrastructural status of the country, disclosing that billions of naira were annually being budgeted for oil subsidy yet its basic aim wasn’t achieved. Prior to when the majority of Nigerians were apparently convinced that the oil subsidy removal would be beneficial to all concerned, virtually every Nigerian was sceptical with the notion that it was only an attempt of the politicians to exploit their meager resources.

         

Nigerians were meant to believe that if the subsidy is duly removed, the pump price of fuel, which was then #65, would eventually decline to at most #10 having resuscitated the country’s moribund refineries. It’s noteworthy that the prime target was to rather use the oil subsidy fund to revive the three non-functional Nigeria’s refineries variously situated in Kaduna, Warri and Port-Harcourt.

        

Without due consultations with the organized labour comprising the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the FG took the bull by the horn in early 2016 by outrightly removing the oil subsidy as being proposed. The abrupt step was absorbed smacks of mischief by the masses, traders, as well as the civil servants.  

          

The FG thereafter proclaimed partial deregulation of the downstream sector, thereby allowing any prospective individual investor to establish and manage a refinery of his/her choice. The proclamation was seen as a welcome development that was long overdue. On the contrary, the fuel pump price was at the time increased to #145 by the FG, still without the consent of the organized labour, stating that with time, everything would fall into place; therefore, urged the citizens to exercise patience. The government via the Petroleum Ministry further promised that the Warri refinery would be fixed before the end of 2016.

          

It’s so pathetic and mind-boggling that almost two years after the said policy was implemented, Nigeria as a people is yet to boast of at least a refinery, after series of promises made by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu. Lately, the minister publicly lamented that the government’s intent to resuscitate the country’s moribund refineries was being marred by paucity of funds; if what the boss said was something to go by, then one would begin to wonder what actually is being done with the billions of naira formerly meant to cater for oil subsidy. Worse still, the government is more concerned on borrowing funds to service the country’s budget.

        

It is therefore needless to state that the FG has so far failed the teeming Nigerians as regards the ongoing Oil Subsidy Removal Policy, or all the pledges tendered in respect of that. The country’s downstream sector is still wearing a pitiable look; the pump price of petrol still stood at #145 as against its former price of #65; none of the dilapidated refineries has been revived; no iota of plan to construct a new one. With all these, who then would say that all is well? Think about it!

Comrade FDN Nwaozor

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