KANO, Nigeria – The Kano State Government has launched sweeping measures to combat substance abuse, banning the sale and trafficking of illicit drugs, restricting movement in identified drug hotspots and empowering security agencies to crack down on offenders.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf announces the measures on Wednesday after signing executive orders and inaugurating a Multi-Agency Anti-Substance Abuse Task Force at the Government House in Kano.
“The Executive Order on Public Safety Emergency on Substance Abuse takes immediate effect. It prohibits the sale of illicit drugs and unregistered pharmaceutical products without valid prescriptions. It also imposes movement restrictions in identified hotspots to enable security agencies to effectively tackle drug-related crimes.”
Under the new directive, movement will be restricted between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. in communities identified as centres of drug abuse and criminal activity. Security personnel are authorised to stop, search, arrest and prosecute suspected offenders.
“The security agencies have been directed to enforce this order without fear or favour. Any property found to be used for the sale or trafficking of illicit drugs risks forfeiture through the revocation of its Certificate of Occupancy.”
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