"We'll Use Law and Jobs to End Drug AbuseÔÇØ - Governor Alex Otti Declares

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, has once again made it clear that his administration will not tolerate drug abuse and its destructive impact on society. The Governor stated this during a meeting with the Assistant Controller General of Narcotics (ACGN), Zone 12, covering Imo, Abia, and Anambra States, Mrs. Florence Ezeonye, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Umuahia, on Thursday, October 16, 2025.

Governor Otti, while reaffirming his stance on stringent anti-drug laws, said his government is working to enact stronger legislation that will curb the menace of drug addiction among the youth.

He noted that drug abuse has become a major driver of crime, explaining that many young people commit offenses under the influence of drugs. "If you notice, you'll find that a lot of young people go into crime and come back to consume drugs to fuel it,ÔÇØ the Governor said.

Using the Pareto Principle (80/20 rule) to analyze crime behavior, Otti categorized criminals into two groups - those who commit crimes involuntarily and those driven by social and economic conditions. He stated that his administration is committed to tackling both, using rehabilitation and employment creation for the first group, and strict enforcement and imprisonment for the second.

"For us, we've taken a principled decision to lift our people out of poverty by creating an enabling environment for them to work and live decently. Not just by giving out money - because some may use it to buy drugs - but by creating jobs and engagement that keep them off crime,ÔÇØ Otti stated.

He further maintained that rehabilitation alone is not enough, calling for tougher penalties and imprisonment for offenders, while revealing that discussions are ongoing with the National Assembly to strengthen relevant laws.

Governor Otti also responded to the NDLEA Zonal Commander's request to relocate the Abia State Command from Aba to Umuahia, assuring her that his government would review the proposal to ensure greater operational efficiency.

Earlier in her remarks, ACGN Florence Ezeonye commended Governor Otti for his "visible transformation of Abia StateÔÇØ, expressing amazement at the level of infrastructural progress achieved under his administration.

"I was a Commander here between 2011 and 2015, and when I returned as Zonal Commander, I couldn't recognize Aba anymore because of the massive development. I even missed my way - that's how impressive the changes are,ÔÇØ she said.

She conveyed the appreciation of the NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), who hailed Otti for integrating the NDLEA into the State Security Council, providing them with operational vehicles, residential accommodation, and inaugurating the State Drug Control Committee.

Mrs. Ezeonye also described Otti's leadership as "a model of pragmatic governance that others should emulate.ÔÇØ

Governor Otti congratulated Mrs. Ezeonye on her achievements and described her as an asset to the NDLEA, assuring continued collaboration between the state government and federal agencies to secure the lives of Abians and sustain peace across communities.