The Kano State Reformative Centre, Kiru, says it is currently managing 3,500 clients, who are set to undergo various indoor and outdoor rehabilitation and reintegration programmes across the state.
The Coordinator of the Centre, Ms Cheryl Aminta-Kwagga, disclosed this on Wednesday in Kano during a one-day capacity-building training organised for the 44 Local Government Chairmen.
The training is with the theme: “United Against Drug Abuse: A Collective Community Based Strategy of Drug Abuse Rehabilitation and Reintegration “Local solutions, United strength: Combating Drug Abuse Through Grassroot Leadership”.
She explained that the Centre provided a comprehensive approach to rehabilitation, combining medical treatment, counselling, and vocational skills acquisition.
“Proper rehabilitation lasts for six months, followed by another six months of reintegration, during which clients are trained in various trades and monitored for stability,” she said.
Aminta-Kwagga added that the Centre had expanded its operations with the establishment of a new reformative facility in Gaya, while plans were underway to build additional centres across the three senatorial districts.
She said the initiative to train the local government chairmen was to strengthen community participation and ensure that grassroots leaders took ownership of the campaign against drug abuse.
“Across our communities, drug abuse continues to destroy families, fuel insecurity, and weaken the productive capacity of our youths. This calls for coordinated action at all levels,” she said.
The coordinator described local government chairmen as key players in the fight against drug abuse, being the closest to the people and best positioned to promote prevention and rehabilitation at the grassroots.
“This training equips you with practical tools to translate policies into measurable actions that can restore hope and stability within our communities,” she stated.
Declaring the training open, the Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdussalam-Gwarzo, represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Alhaji Mustapha Rabiu-Kwankwaso, said the initiative reflected the state government’s commitment to tackling drug abuse through inclusive and community-based approaches.
He noted that the administration of Gov. Abba Yusuf was determined to strengthen institutions that promoted rehabilitation and reintegration of victims of substance abuse.
“The theme of this programme is both timely and strategic. Drug abuse is not only a health challenge but a social and security threat that requires local action and collaboration,” he said.
Also speaking, the Kano State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Abubakar Idris-Ahmad, represented by DCN Maimuna Garba-Muhammad, said drug abuse remained a serious public health and social concern.
He said NDLEA would continue to work closely with local governments, community leaders, and other stakeholders to achieve a drug-free society.
“Our collective responsibility is to ensure that no community is left behind in this campaign against drug abuse,” he added.
