BY TAIBAT UMMI YAKUBU

The Katsina Emirate Council has called on the government to establish a special intervention fund for the care, rehabilitation and reintegration of orphans who have fallen into drug abuse, warning that children without adequate parental care are increasingly vulnerable to harmful social influences.

The council said children who lose their parents and grow up without proper guidance, supervision and financial support require targeted government intervention to prevent them from becoming victims of substance abuse and other social problems.

The Magajin Garin Katsina and District Head of Katsina Town, Alhaji Aminu Abdulmuminu-Kabir, made the appeal on Wednesday while receiving a campaign team raising awareness about drug abuse and domestic violence at his office.

Represented by Wakilin Kudu, Abdu Iliyasu, the traditional ruler described the campaign, initiated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), as an important step towards addressing social challenges affecting Nigerian communities.

He pledged the emirate council's support for the initiative, stressing that vulnerable children, particularly orphans without adequate care and protection, needed more than public awareness campaigns to overcome the challenges confronting them.

Abdulmuminu-Kabir proposed that the government create a dedicated fund through which affected children could access education, proper care, addiction treatment, rehabilitation and other essential services to help them recover and become productive members of society.

He also urged relatives and guardians to take greater responsibility for the upbringing of orphaned children, while calling on parents to monitor their children's behaviour, associations and activities to protect them from negative peer pressure.

The emirate council, he added, remained committed to partnering with government agencies and other stakeholders to address drug abuse and domestic violence through continuous sensitisation and community-based interventions.

At a separate town hall meeting, Abbas, represented by his Senior Legislative Assistant, Najib Yanduna, described drug abuse and domestic violence as serious threats to public health, family stability, community security and national development.

He expressed concern over the growing consequences of substance abuse among young people, noting that addiction could expose them to mental health problems, criminal activities, unemployment and the loss of opportunities that could otherwise shape their future.

The Speaker maintained that young Nigerians represented the country's greatest resource and should not be allowed to sacrifice their ambitions and potential to drug addiction.

He also drew attention to the different forms of domestic violence, including physical, emotional, psychological, sexual and economic abuse, warning that their effects often extend beyond immediate victims to children, families and the wider society.

Abbas stressed that families should provide an atmosphere of safety, affection and mutual understanding rather than becoming environments where members live under intimidation, violence or fear.

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He called for greater emphasis on peaceful conflict resolution, mutual respect, gender equality and responsible relationships within households.

The Speaker further assured that the National Assembly remained committed to supporting legislation, policies and institutional measures aimed at protecting vulnerable Nigerians, strengthening families and tackling substance abuse.

He urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, parents, teachers, community organisations and government agencies to work together in educating the public about the dangers of drug abuse and domestic violence.

He also identified education, vocational skills acquisition, entrepreneurship and other productive opportunities as important ways of keeping young people away from drugs and other harmful activities.

Earlier, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, represented by the Director of Special Duties and State Operations, David Akoji, said addressing the challenges required sustained cooperation among families, communities, traditional institutions and government authorities.

Issa-Onilu emphasised the need to restore traditional values such as discipline, honesty, compassion, respect, responsibility and communal support, describing them as essential foundations for building a peaceful and responsible society.

He warned that the continued spread of drug abuse and domestic violence could weaken family structures, threaten national security and undermine development efforts.

According to him, communities must reject the culture of silence and indifference that often allows addiction and abuse to continue without intervention.

He called for an environment where young people are encouraged to pursue meaningful opportunities, while women and children receive adequate protection against violence and exploitation.

The NOA chief also stressed the importance of providing counselling, treatment and rehabilitation for people struggling with substance dependency, alongside promoting peaceful ways of resolving disagreements within families.

He maintained that lasting national security begins with individual discipline, stable families and communities that take collective responsibility for the welfare and safety of their members.