UNODC TO STEM HARD DRUGS' CONSUMPTION

The Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
in Nigeria, Mr. Paul Salay, has said the body's ultimate desire this year
was to bring consumption of illicit drugs among youths in the country to the
barest minimum.

Towards the realisation of that, the UNODC, he said, has entered into
partnership with some corporate organisations on how best to re-integrate
drug addicts back into the society.

He said the UNODC and some corporate organisations were putting finishing
touches to some projects which they intend to work on this year.

Salay, who was speaking at a dinner organised for representatives of UNODC
in Africa and the Middle East in Lagos recently, said one of the greatest
challenges confronting UNODC was getting former drug users to be gainfully
employed and useful not only to themselves, but to the society at large.

"I am very delighted to say that some organisations such as Standard Trust
Bank have signified their intention to enter into partnership with the UNODC
on the war against illicit drug abuse and trafficking in the country," he
said.

While appealing to other private and corporate organisations in the country
not to leave the fight against crime to government alone, Salay stated that
the drug problem should be seen by all as societal.

"If things were allowed to go on as usual, the resultant effect would be
increase in armed robbery, human trafficking, child labour and rape.

"Government has exp-ressed its willingness to assist us," he added, stating
that the UNODC last year organised a workshop in which ex-drug addicts and
commercial sex workers participated.

Rising in response on behalf of other corporate organisations in the country
during the dinner, the Executive Director, Standard Trust Bank, Mr. Kennedy
Uzoka, said the bank was consistent with the mandate of UNODC. He said the
management of the bank has expressed its desire to be a role model in the
war against drug abuse and trafficking not only in Nigeria, but in Africa as
a whole.

"We have always identified ourselves with UN and its conventions and will
continue to partner with the UN agencies such as UNODC", he assured.

The bank, Uzoka further said, believes that to reduce crime, those that have
been rehabilitated by UNODC needed to be empowered.

He told the gathering that the bank has started a scheme, which will make it
possible for rehabilitated criminals to get soft loans to go into trades of
their choices.

He charged the UNODC to galvanise other corporate organisations, who may not
be aware of the programme.

"We assure you all that other businesses under the stable of STB would be of
assistance to the project", he added.

Sumru Noyan, Director UNODC in Ukrane, who responded on behalf of others,
thanked corporate organisatios, especially, Standarded Trust Bank (STB), for
coming to the aid of their colleague in Nigeria. Without maximum
co-oporation with UNODC by individuals and private groups, there was little
the agency can achieve, he said.