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70% Of Codeine Are Consumed In Sambisa Forest – Lawan

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70% Of Codeine Are Consumed In Sambisa Forest - Lawan

Senate majority leader, Ahmed Lawan (File Photo)

Ahmed Lawan, senate majority leader, says 70 percent of the codeine being imported into the country are being sent to Sambisa forest, a hub for the Boko Haram terrorist.

This he said today while talking on why cough syrup containing codeine in the country must be banned. A point of order he raised himself.

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Isaac Adewole, minister of health, announced the ban yesterday after BBC showed a documentary which revealed the abuse of the syrup.

Lawan insisted that codeine remained one of the most abused drugs in Nigeria.

He said the senate, while deliberating on the abuse of the drug last year, had found out that between Jigawa and Kano state, “over three million bottles of codeine is consumed on a daily basis”.

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“This is the most destructive phenomenon in Nigeria after the killing by Boko Haram and the bandits,” he said.

“Nigeria is supposed to be much more worried of addiction than any other situation. The executive has found enough reasons and grounds to ban the importation of this deadly syrup.

“I feel the national assembly particularly the senate and our committees on drugs and narcotics and health should work with federal ministry of health and NAFDAC to implementation of this ban.

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“Secondly, we have many millions of this codeine syrup at the counters of some pharmacies. It is in my opinion that we enjoin the security agencies to deal with those that already on the counters.

“The information I got this morning is that 70% of this codeine that comes into Nigeria finds its way into Sambisa forest and what that tells us is that we have Boko haram elements who are using this. We may even have some of our security agencies who are under the influence of drugs. Therefore we need to do everything possible to support the executive on this to minimize — even if we can’t completely eliminate this scourge.”

Thereafter, Senate President Bukola Saraki said the senate would work with the executive to see that the ban is fully implemented.

“It is a great day for those of advocating the tackling of drug abuse which is affecting many of our girls and women,” he said, adding: “Let us see that this is restricted.”