We’ll Collaborate With Jeje Riders In Curbing Drug Abuse In Schools – Marwa

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has declared that it would collaborate with international touring bikers group, Jeje Riders Nigeria to fight drug abuse among youths and children of age across the country.

The declaration was made by the Chairman of NDLEA, Retired Brig-Gen.Buba Marwa (rtd), when he played host to members of the Jeje Riders Nigeria, who paid him a courtesy in Abuja on Wednesday.

The visit was a prelude to the flag off of a nationwide students anti-drug abuse campaign in Yola scheduled for October 12, 2024 to be anchored by Jeje Riders.
The NDLEA chairman expressed delight and commended the group for choosing to assist the NDLEA with a campaign to educate young people on the dangers of substance abuse in schools and the hinterlands across the nation.

Marwa said riders are misconstrued internationally to be associated with criminal abuse, drug use, misdemeanours and other social vices, which is not the case with Jeje Riders.
He asserted that Jeje Riders are major contributors to national health and wellbeing of the nation.
Marwa stated that, “I would like to commend you for your initiatives and for your participation in making this a very successful organisation. It is very important that you are facing the youth, that is where the calamity that is befalling us today lies.

“The level of drug use among Nigerian youths is touching — primary school, secondary and tertiary institutions and not to talk of those that are out of school. There are millions that are out of school and because of the poverty index.
“Ee have a situation where there is no food to eat, they roam around and maybe a colleague will give them a pill to chew that can kill the hunger and make them happy at the same time and before you know it becomes a problem.

“So this type of work is very important. The NDLEA cannot alone solve the drug use problem nor the government, the whole of the society, everyone has to contribute his or her own quota.

“We appreciate this work you are doing, we are going to collaborate and keep us informed of all that you do. It is a very important assignment you put yourself to do. It is a national assignment.
“One in seven Nigerians use drugs and that is very high. But with your collaboration, and am sure you will put in your best and make a difference.”

Speaking earlier, the president and chairman, Board of Trustees of Jeje Riders Nigeria, Ibrahim Tizhe said Jeje Riders was established in 2022 and registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

He said the association has 24 members who are from different professional backgrounds including the military, the police, medical personnel and business professionals from across the nation with affiliations to bikers group from other countries across the world.

Explaining the purpose of the visit, a member of the group, Mr Tijjani St. James said the group is made up of like-minded individuals and professionals from various backgrounds with a passion to improve the quality of living in the country.

He said Jeje Riders have been to several countries around the world and are involved actively in humanitarian works.

St. James noted: “Our key objectives are aligned with the United Nations SustainableDevelopment Goals (SDGs), which include community development, peace advocacy, and youth development among others.

“We are embedded in the society we live. We have serving military personnel amongst us, businessmen, captains of industries, professors.
“We have members across Nigeria and some West African countries. We not only ride, but are involved in community development and charity work.
“Sometimes ago we donated heart equipment to the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna to support their work. We also supported Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital in Kaduna with the same equipment.

Explaining further, St.James stressed that the group has been involved in community development especially in the provision of healthcare and water facilities with a recent project commissioned recently in Zamfara State.

“Our key focus is on the youths and that is why we are here today. We believe that the youths are our future; they are the leaders of tomorrow. A nation is as good as the quality of the youth it has and that is why we focused our attention on the youth.”