The Divisional Police Officer, Shogunle Division, CSP Emeka Umeozor, on Thursday urged members of Oshodi/Isolo community to collaborate with the police to tame the problem of intake of illicit drugs by youths.
Umeozor made the appeal while speaking at the 10th edition of the annual Lagos State House Assembly Constituency Stakeholders’ Meeting, held at the Oshodi/Isolo Constituency 1, on Thursday.
The constituency meeting had as its theme: “Governance in Action: The Gains of the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
“What is disturbing us in this community is the issue of drugs.
“The police have started doing something by deploying its officers to the community, but we need the collaboration of everyone in the community.
“We(police) are not spirit, and we do not need to leave these monsters in our midst. We need to expose those selling the drugs and those taking it to ensure a clean and safe community,” he said.
He decried what he called the anti-social behaviours of the present generation of young people ,urging parents to properly monitor and guide their children.
“The old generation have made Lagos proud, but our concern is the present generation and the way they behave.
“This is the generation that is taking drugs, dresses half naked and behaves in abnormal ways.
“Parents need to do more in taking care of their wards, they should not abandon these children to go the wrong way,” he said.
Speaking, Mr Ewetade Monsuru, Coordinator, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Oshodi branch, called on government to pay more attention to young people.
He said the youth make up over 70 per cent of the population, adding empowering them would lead to a more productive society.
“We need support from government and this can be in form of the renovation of the youth vocational centre in the area and creating new ones ” he said.
Responding, the lawmaker representing the constituency, Mr Stephen Ogundipe, urged the police to adopt more of correctional approaches than punitive ones in crime fighting.
Ogundipe decried the rising cases of scavengers destroying infrastructure in the state,saying he had raised the issue on the floor of the Assembly for action.
While delivering the speech of Mr Mudashiru Obasa,Speaker of the House, Ogundipe urged everyone to embrace the era of renewed hope with steadfast determination.
Ogundipe noted that this would ensure the collective legacy of prosperity, inclusivity and enduring progress.
NAN reports that nine students out of 750 tutored during summer coaching, facilitated by the lawmaker,were recognised for their outstanding performance.
The lawmaker also appreciated leaders for their contributions to the community.
The lawmaker also supported some selected businesses with N25,000 each at the meeting.
