Edo Government Warns Against Substance Abuse

The Edo State Government has charged young people in the state, especially the girl-child, to stay away from drug-related habits and channel their efforts towards being the best in their various fields of endeavours.

A statement said the Commissioner for Social Development and Gender Issues, Mrs Maria Edekor, stated this while addressing female students at Imaguero Grammar School, Benin City, during an event to commemorate the International Day of the Girl-Child on Tuesday.

She said the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration was committed to improving the lives and protecting the future of every girl-child in Edo State.

Edekor said, “The girl-child is the best gift from God to humanity; we are not unaware of the issues confronting the girl-child, including rape, defilement, child marriage, child labour, discrimination, child trafficking and other forms of exploitation.

“As the ministry saddled with the responsibility of taking care and protecting the girl-child in Edo State, we are here to celebrate you, our girls, and let you know how important you are to us.

“We are not also unaware of how some girls take hard drugs; this is a habit capable of destroying lives. Therefore, you must run away from it because it is difficult to rehabilitate any person that does drugs.”