The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Nigeria has initiated a three-day stakeholders’ engagement in Zamfara to address issues of insecurity, crime, and drug abuse.
Sulaiman Idris, the media aide to Governor Dauda Lawal, announced this on Monday in Gusau.
The workshop aims to guide the UN’s response to these pressing challenges through an assessment and programming mission.
Oliver Stolpe, the UNODC Country Representative, is leading the UN team, which will interact with key stakeholders across various sectors during the workshop.
The event will provide a platform for stakeholders and the UN team to analyze the scope, drivers, and trends of insecurity, crime, and drug abuse in Zamfara collectively.
The statement highlighted that the workshop will share successful practices and approaches from both within and outside Nigeria to develop a joint action plan to tackle these issues.
Governor Lawal called on the UN team to show a collective commitment to addressing the challenges of banditry, other crimes, and their connection to drug abuse.
Governor Lawal mentioned that his recent visit to the UN aimed at seeking assistance for the state’s pressing challenges.
During his visit, he engaged with Amina Mohammed, the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, and the leadership of various UN agencies, including the Drug and Crime office.
The current seminar is seen as a proactive measure by the UN to fulfill its promises of helping Zamfara understand and address these challenges.
For over a decade, Zamfara has struggled with problems that undermine the safety and well-being of its people and hinder socioeconomic development.
Governor Lawal emphasized the importance of this visit and workshop, as the outcomes will shape future policies, decisions, and strategies for combating these issues.
He expressed satisfaction that a wide range of topics will be discussed during the workshop, including the root causes and manifestations of insecurity and crime, such as kidnapping, cattle rustling, illegal mining, and inter-communal violence.
The workshop will also examine the role of state security actors and traditional institutions in combating these problems and seek UN support to strengthen the criminal justice response to organized crime and community-based crime prevention.
Additionally, the scope, trends, and societal implications of drug abuse in Zamfara will be explored, along with good practices in drug use prevention, treatment, and care.
Governor Lawal urged all participants to actively engage in the workshop, listen, learn, and contribute constructively.
He expressed hope that the participants would leave the workshop better equipped to benefit their communities and state.
“I urge all participants to use this opportunity to engage actively to benefit from the workshop proceedings. You should listen, learn, and contribute constructively.”
“I hope that, at the end, all the participants will be better off for the good of our communities and state.”
The insights and recommendations from this workshop will be crucial in shaping the strategies and actions needed to address the challenges facing Zamfara.
