The Kano Emirate has introduced mandatory drug testing for prospective traditional rulers seeking to ascend thrones within the emirate.
The District Head of Dambatta, Mansur Adnan, disclosed this on Saturday at a sensitisation programme on drug abuse and trafficking held at his palace in Dambatta, Kano State.
Adnan said the decision was driven by the harmful consequences of drug abuse on individuals, families and society, stressing that traditional rulers must be physically and mentally fit to provide effective leadership.
According to him, prospective traditional rulers are now expected to undergo drug tests before they can ascend traditional thrones under the Kano Emirate.
He said the measure was part of efforts to ensure that traditional institutions remained credible and capable of providing responsible leadership in their communities.
The sensitisation programme brought together district and ward heads from Dambatta Local Government Area, who were urged to strengthen community-based efforts against drug abuse and trafficking.
Speaking at the event, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Zonal Commander in Dambatta, Zailani Muhammad, called for stronger collaboration between traditional institutions and security agencies to curb the growing menace of illicit drugs.
Muhammad urged traditional rulers and residents to report drug traffickers as well as locations where illicit drugs were sold or consumed.
He said the agency remained open to receiving information, complaints and suggestions from members of the public that could assist its campaign against drug abuse and trafficking.
The NDLEA commander stressed that the fight against drug abuse could not be won by government agencies alone, noting that traditional rulers, parents, teachers and other community stakeholders had critical roles to play.
He also educated participants on the effects of drug abuse, factors that could expose young people to substance use and warning signs that parents should watch for in their children.
Muhammad displayed some commonly abused substances and explained their potential dangers to users and the wider society.
Also speaking, the Dambatta Divisional Police Officer, SP Ibrahim Kwasarawa, linked a significant proportion of crimes committed by youths in communities to drug abuse.
Kwasarawa urged parents to pay closer attention to their children’s behaviour and provide proper guidance to prevent them from engaging in activities that could expose them to crime and substance abuse.
The latest measure by the Kano Emirate places drug screening among the conditions being introduced to strengthen the integrity of traditional leadership and promote healthier communities.
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