The Kano State Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs has announced a new strategic partnership with the Kiru Reformative Centre aimed at combating drug abuse and thuggery among youth across the state.
This development was disclosed by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, during a courtesy visit by the Coordinator of the Kiru Reformative Centre, Ms. Cheryl Aminta Kwagga, to the Ministry on Wednesday.
This is contained in a statement Signed Signed by Sani Abba Yola Director, Special Duties Kano State Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs On Thursday.
Welcoming the collaboration, Comrade Waiya described the visit as timely, noting that the Ministry is currently coordinating a multi-stakeholder initiative focused on addressing youth-related social vices.
“You have come at the right time. I am currently leading a stakeholders’ coordinating committee on a project that seeks to address the issues of thuggery and other related practices. We are already working toward engaging organisations like the Kiru Reformative Centre,” Waiya stated.
He further revealed that the initiative, tagged ‘Safe Corridor: The Kano Model’, has already recorded substantial progress in profiling and engaging hundreds of at-risk youths.
“These youths have expressed readiness to abandon lives of thuggery and drug abuse. Plans are underway to rehabilitate and empower them to become productive members of society,” he added.
The Commissioner also disclosed that a comprehensive action plan is being finalised and will soon be launched to the public. The plan is expected to include targeted intervention strategies, advocacy, and awareness campaigns to tackle the root causes of youth crime and delinquency.
He assured the Kiru Centre of the Ministry’s full support, stating that “drug abuse remains a major catalyst for crime, including thuggery and other social vices. The Ministry will work closely with your Centre to provide the necessary enlightenment and sensitisation required to reform our youth.”
Earlier in her remarks, Ms. Kwagga called for the Ministry’s collaboration in creating greater public awareness of the Centre’s rehabilitation and community-based activities. She emphasised the need for strong institutional support to confront the growing menace of youth delinquency.
“This battle must be fought together, especially by leveraging the Ministry’s vast experience in media and information dissemination to reach our communities,” she said.
According to her, the Kiru Reformative Centre remains committed to addressing the root causes of drug abuse and social deviance through advocacy, rehabilitation, and engagement with key community actors.