The NDLEA Commander in Ogun State, Tijani Rabe, disclosed this on Tuesday when executive members of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ogun State chapter paid a working visit to the NDLEA office in Abeokuta on the 5th edition of SWAN Security Cup in Ogun state.
The NDLEA Commander represented by Deputy Commander in charge of Narcotics, Mrs. Ifeoma Eucharia said sport is one of the activities of the agency to prevent drug abuse in the country.
According to Mr. Rabe, sport is a better way to engage the minds and kill boredom.
He said some athletes also engage in the usage of Performance Enhance Drugs, which affect the liver, kidney, and the brain.
He noted that some athletes engage in abuse of drugs whenever they want to manage pain and reduce control of their palpitation, which inadvertently damage their internal tissue.
He applauded SWAN for community engagement with all security agencies in Ogun state.
He posited that the security cup football competition organized by SWAN for all security agencies in the state would further restore public trust and relationship with security operatives in the state.
He, therefore, called for the expansion of the SWAN security cup to accommodate other indoor games such as volleyball, table tennis, badminton, scrabble, ludo, Ayo Olopon, and boxing.
"Sports is one of the activities to prevent drug abuse. One of the reasons people, especially our youths, do drugs is boredom. But sports will engage the minds and it will take away your boredom.
"We will be willing to support your programme, but you also have to join the command in the crusade against drug abuse by athletes. Some sports men and women use performance enhancement drugs to stimulate their body system, but it affects their liver, kidney, and brain in the long run. Most of the time, sport men and women, when they want to manage pain, engage in drug intake. They take some drugs to reduce their heartbeat, but there are consequences to this practice.
"I commend SWAN for your community engagement, for trying to bring the security personnel closer to the people, so that the people will not see us as enemies. We are part of society, and people should see us as their friends."
Speaking earlier, the SWAN Chairman, Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji, lauded NDLEA for it fight against drug abuse among the youths.
Ogunsiji maintained that the SWAN security cup was to further strengthen the already existing peaceful relationship among the security outfits in the state.
