The Federal Ministry of Health on Monday went round some motor parks and markets in Abuja to sensitise the public on dangers of drug abuse.

Director, Food and Drugs in the ministry, Mr Olubukola Ajayi, while addressing the newsmen at the end of the exercise, said that such became necessary due to the danger drug abuse posed on the society.

“This sensitisation is being organised by the ministry because of the situation in the country as drug abuse has become a pandemic.

“People on drugs have committed a lot of havoc by killing, stealing, raping and indulging in many terrible things,’’ Ajayi said.

According to her, the ministry decided to educate Nigerians on the danger of drug abuse for them to resist its temptation and addiction, adding that similar activities are being carried out in states and local government areas.

Ajayi said that the ministry had developed policies but was left for the relevant agencies to carry out the implementation.

She urged the media to properly sensitise the public on dangers of drug abuse.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the sensitization was carried out at the Wuse Market, Berger Junction and Jabi Motor Park in Abuja.

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Some residents, who spoke with NAN, said that it might be very difficult to just stop some of the habitual addictions such as smoking as it had become part of their lives.

Mr Musa Aduma, a motor park attendance ( Agbero), said he had been taking drugs since he was fifteen years old and now he is 29 years.

“Even my mother cannot stop me from taking drugs because it is like part of my live,’’ Adama said.

He advised the government to start from the root where most of those drugs are being planted.

According to him, if those drugs are not being sold, people will not buy.

Also, Mr Ibrahim Audu, said that some rich people indulge in drugs abuse so it should not be seen as the problem of the poor.

Audu claimed that a times, enforcement officers that seize some of the drugs still resell them rather than burning the stuff.

NAN reports that the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, or World Drug Day, is marked on 26 June of every year, to strengthen action and cooperation in achieving the goal of a world free of drug abuse.