By Yusuf Adua
A media interest group, Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN) has called on the Oyo state government to regulate the display and consumption of alcohol as well as other hard drugs in various motor parks and the entire environ of the state.
MMPN made this appeal through a communique issued today at the end of its monthly meeting signed by the state chapter’s chairman, Alhaji Ridwan Fasasi under the architecture of Mr. Shehu Suleman and
Mr. Semiu Akinremi which was made available to News Live Nigeria.
The body thought that many youths in the country engage in the consumption of alcohol and other hard drugs which have adverse effects on their psychological well-being resulting in thuggery, armed robbery, kidnapping, banditry, gun running among others which are surely unpalatable for a better life in the pacesetter state.
To the body, youths in Nigeria need to shun social vices and engage themselves meaningfully to contribute positively to the society they abide with and the generality of the nation.
The communique reads in parts: “MMPN frowned at unregulated manner alcohol and other hard drugs are being displayed and sold at motor parks as well as other parts of the society”, while also charging government at all levels to address the rate at which hard drugs and drinks are being circulated in and around our society.
The body, which fixed its mind on the premise that this unchecked irregularity was the brainchild of some major road crashes recorded on the road in Oyo State and Nigeria in general maintained that the government needs to make a well spelt-out law and impose heavy sanction without fine that will discourage the sale and consumption of alcohol and other hard drugs in our society.
The group did implore parents to mentor their children for them to be useful to the society and shun all forms of social vices while pleading to government at all levels and well-meaning Nigerians to empower the youths and the needy in the society because the empowerment of those on the streets “would reduce insecurity in Nigeria”.
On the state of the nation, MMPN tasked the federal government to promptly address the hardship caused by the high cost of foods and other goods in the market as the rate at which people especially the masses suffer was growing at an alarming rate as the day ticked by.
Though commended the Oyo State government for paying the workers’ salary before the Eld-el-Kabir celebration, The body demanded Governor Seyi Makinde to ensure fairness in his composition of the new State Executive Council in line with his promise to be fair to all along religious divides.