The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has called for a law that will compel public officers and traditional rulers to undergo drug test in the country.

He made the call at the Senate Roundtable on drug abuse held in Kano on Monday.

The event is organised by the Senate in order to address drug abuse epidemic in the country.

He said the call was necessary in order to ensure that anybody was not allowed to hold political office and traditional leadership positions.

“I am ready to submit myself for the drug test.

“I suggest that ministers, governors and traditional rulers should go for drug test because when youths understand that they cannot be governors, ministers or senators if they are drug addicts, they will be into their senses.

“The country is facing a great danger because the fight against drug abuse has to be taken seriously if we are to succeed,” he said.

While calling for effective implementation of the laws against drug abuse in the country, the first class traditional ruler also urged the Senate to ensure proper funding of all agencies charged with the responsibility to enforce the laws.

“We are deceiving ourselves if we don’t believe that we are part of the problem,” Sanusi said.

Besides, the emir called for the establishment of modern rehabilitation centres for victims of drug abuse in the six geo-political zones of the country.

He said when established, the centres should be equipped with necessary facilities and personnel to enable them take care of the teeming numbers of victims of the drug abuse.

He said the measure was necessary in order to ensure that those addicts were rehabilitated and trained in various skills to enable them be reintegrated into the society.

He, however, called for adequate funding of the centres to enable them operate effectively and serve the purpose for which they are established. (NAN)

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