Kogi State House of Assembly has called on the state government to establish a rehabilitation center that will cater for the needs of victims of abuse such as drugs ,rape and other mental challenges.
Member representing Lokoja 1 State Constituency, Hon Bin Ebaiya Shehu Tijani who moved the motion during plenary sitting, Thursday ,on the floor of the House averred that the penchant for drug abuse among youths in Lokoja and other places have risen and led to many untimely deaths
He also explained that besides drug abuse ,rape and gender based violence are prevalent and have also caused a lot of trauma on the victims .
Unfortunately, he said,Kogi State has no rehabilitation center to cater for such victims which has made many to resort to unprofessional care givers .
The lawmaker pointed out that one Non Governmental Organization, MOHAB, is overwhelmed with the provisions of care for such victims and had even called the attention of the state government to come to the aid of the victims to no avail .
Against the above backgrounds, Hon Shehu therefore moved that the House resolved to communicate the state government on the imperative to establish a rehabilitation center in Kogi in view of the increasing cases of abuse and the resultant mental injury or traumas and abuse .
He averred that when the rehab center is established,it shall provide physiotherapy, occupational therapy and other rehabilitative treatments for physical or mental agony .
The lawmaker added that besides treating addictions , the centre would provide operational support for relevant laws on gender based violence and Child Rights Law of Kogi State.
While further stressing that the center would reduce crime rate in the society, he prayed the House to convey to the state government the need to establish a rehabilitation center in the state.
Lawmakers seconded and spoke in support of the laudable motion .
The Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Mrs Comfort Ojoma Nwochiola Egwaba who presided over the sitting also stressed that the motion was timely and directed the Clerk to convey the resolution to the state government.
In an interview with Reflection Newspaper, Hon Bin Ebaiya Tijani Shehu disclosed that he was motivated to move the motion because of the issue of drug abuse which has become rampant in the society.
He pointed out that one should not shy away from this reality in view of the prevalence of molestations one witnessed daily.
He advocated the need for a designated place where the problems can be taken care of .
Hon Shehu also noted that the responses and supports he got on the floor of the House from his colleagues were proactive, pointing out that the Majority Leader, Hon (Dr) Suleiman Abdulrazak who represents Okene Town State Constituency was also working on a bill to take care of such challenges too.