By Asmau Ahmad
The Sokoto State Government is partnering with the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to curb illegal sale and abuse of codeine-containing substances.
The NDLEA Commander in the state, Malam Misbahu Idris, who made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Sokoto, said the partnership followed the myriad of outcries from Sokoto residents and environs over the high rate of sale and abuse of substances such as Benylin and tutolin by youths which was supposed to be cough syrup.
He said: “The rate of abuse is very alarming and unfortunate. The situation is also very dangerous and precarious, as it is deadly and nefariously profitable than beer.”
The NDLEA commander, who decried the lack or dearth of laws on the sale of such substances in the country, lamented the high rate of illegal sale and abuse of these substances by youths in the state, especially Sokoto metropolis.
Malam Idris added that it is regrettable that these substances meant for positive use are being dangerously abused.
The NDLEA boss, therefore, appealed to the National Assembly to make the relevant laws to regulate the sale of cough syrups with codeine in the nation.
In a separate interview, the Permanent Secretary, Sokoto State Ministry of Health, Alhaji Almustapha Othman, said that the state government had been informed about the ugly development.
He then said that the state government had already evolved machineries to curb the trend, in partnership with NDLEA and other stakeholders.
