Worried by the rising cases of drug addiction among youth in Kano, a philanthropist, Abdulkareem Abdussalam Zaura, popularly known as AA Zaura has sought commitment of business community in Kano to check the menace.
Besides, Zaura raised a grave alarm over the growing threat of drug abuse and armed violence in Kano, warned that except stakeholders and concern authorities raise to the challenge, the situation could escalate into a major security crisis.
Addressing an expanded stakeholders engagement with business community under the auspices of AA Zaura Foundation International yesterday, the business mogul lamented that youth gangs in Kano are presently in possession of dangerous local weapons.
He warned that the dangerous trend already rearing ugly head among youth under the influence of illicit substance posed a severe danger to the peace and economic prosperity of the state.
“We are not just here to talk. We are here to take a decisive solution and to act on this project, From Street to Straight, which aims at combating the menace of drug abuse in Kano and other activities.
“The activities of Daba and drug abuse are major setback to any community that wants to develop in this world and most importantly in this region, in our community in Kano.
“Nobody, nobody I repeat, provides opportunities to our youth in Kano other than the business community or business in this hall where we are sitting today,” he added.
He described Kano’s business community as the backbone of employment and youth empowerment, noting that every businessman or woman indirectly supports dozens of young people through trade and mentorship.
Zaura recalled a series of stakeholder engagements with youth involved in drug abuse, traditional rulers, Islamic clerics (Ulama), and community leaders aimed at understanding the root causes of the crisis and developing holistic solutions. According to him, the initiative has revealed a disturbing development.
“Today they are using locally made weapons. They are using so much locally made weapons… This solution has revealed to us that these guys have started taking guns. They started using guns. This is a serious time bomb. Please, we should not allow this to happen.”
He emphasized the need for non-kinetic approaches beyond security force interventions to address the issue, appealing to the business community to constitute a collaborative committee to work with his foundation.
“I personally take this and I take this to my heart. If this will bring an end to my life, it will be a legacy that I believe some people or somebody will take over. I will not stop it. I will do it,” he vowed.
Zaura also commended the efforts of the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), vigilante groups, and community watch teams, but stressed that sustainable peace would only come from a collective, humane approach to rehabilitation and reintegration of affected youth.
On the next steps, he announced plans to launch a pilot phase of the From Street to Straight project, which would include rehabilitation, vocational training, support for formal education, and business empowerment for recovering addicts and ex-gang members.
“I want to say that by breaking the staple, bringing an end to drug addiction, I’m not just talking about it. On the AA Zaura Foundation, I mapped out what is needed to start this project. We will soon launch the pilot project… In the very near future, this will come to existence, insha Allah,” he said.
Zaura appealed to all well-meaning individuals, particularly business leaders, to support the effort to reclaim Kano’s streets from criminal gangs and restore hope for the younger generation.
