The First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu issued a stirring call to action on Saturday, June 21st, during the Lagos leg of the MTN Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) advocacy walk.
“Why should a five-year-old child be sipping alcohol?” she asked a stunned crowd gathered at the University of Lagos, drawing attention to the worsening reality of youth drug exposure in Lagos communities.
Her remarks came during the closing segment of a morning-long walk against drug abuse that began at Alao Aka Bashorun Garden, Gbagada. The event brought together top stakeholders, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), MTN Staff, corps members, students, and members of the general public.
In a passionate speech that combined data, anecdotes, and emotional appeals, Sanwo-Olu recounted stories of parents begging police to arrest their children, and young people entering universities only to return unrecognisable to their families. “We have had parents come to my office asking that their children be locked up. That is the level of despair they feel,” she said.
She further criticised the ease with which drug offenders are bailed out: “A drug sold for N200,000 and the bail is N250,000? We need to change our laws. People are afraid to report because they know the offender will return to threaten them.”
Sanwo-Olu called for a multi-pronged strategy: investment in school-based prevention, stronger laws, and constant messaging. “No to drug abuse and substance abuse, that’s the message we must repeat until it sticks.”
The event also included remarks from Dr. Mosun Belo-Olusoga, Chairman of MTN Foundation, who called on everyone to stay alert to behavioural changes among youth. Commander Abubakar Liman Wali, NDLEA Lagos Command, reiterated the agency’s continued work in prevention and rehabilitation.
With music, placards, and chants calling to “Break the Cycle”, the walk through Lagos was more than a moment; it was a message and a movement.