Customs Seeks Royal Palace Involvement In Curbing Drug Abuse Amongst Youths

…As Aliyi, FOU Boss Visits Alake of Egbaland, Ogun NDLEA Command, State Police Commissioner

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

The Nigeria Customs Service has intensified its campaign against drug abuse and smuggling, seeking the moral authority of traditional institutions to complement enforcement efforts. The Controller of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A, Ikeja-Lagos, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, made this appeal during a courtesy visit to the palace of His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, CFR, Okukenu IV, the Alake of Egbaland, yesterday, Monday, March 16, 2026.

Addressing the monarch, chiefs, elders, and community leaders, Aliyu described the palace as “the cradle of our traditions and the heartbeat of our community,” stressing that its influence could be decisive in reshaping youths behavior.

“Today, I come here not just as Comptroller, but as your son, to seek your royal and fatherly blessings, and partnership in a battle that threatens our greatest asset, our youth,” he said.

Aliyu painted a grim picture of the dangers posed by smuggling and drug abuse, calling them “twin evils eroding the fabric of our society.” He explained that smuggling undermines legitimate businesses and drains the economy, while drug abuse “shatters families, fuels crime, and dims the bright futures of tomorrow’s builders.”

“Smuggling floods our markets with counterfeit goods, undermines legitimate businesses, and starves our economy. Drug abuse, on the other hand, turns potential leaders into shadows of themselves,” he warned.

This is even as the Customs boss highlighted the agency’s frontline role in intercepting contraband, noting that officers have seized tons of narcotics and smuggled items that could have devastated communities. Yet, he admitted enforcement alone cannot win the war.

“We in Customs stand at the forefront, intercepting contraband at our ports and borders. But enforcement alone is not enough. Your Royal Majesty, Sir, you hold the moral authority that resonates deepest with our people,” Aliyu emphasized.

He urged the Alake to deploy cultural and traditional tools in the fight, suggesting royal edicts and town hall meetings that would make drug abuse and smuggling cultural taboos.

“Through royal decrees and town halls, you can instill discipline and rally communities like no other. Together, we can mold our youth into unbreakable links of progress,” he said.

The visit also extended to the Ogun State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the State Commissioner of Police, signaling a united front among security agencies. Aliyu underscored the importance of synergy between enforcement bodies and traditional rulers, describing it as “the chain that binds our collective resolve.”

In his closing remarks, Aliyi invoked ancestral wisdom: “As our ancestors taught, a chain is only as strong as its youth. Let us shape them into unbreakable links of progress.”

The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Gbadebo, welcomed the Customs delegation warmly, assuring them of the palace’s support in mobilizing communities against the scourge. He commended the Customs Service for its vigilance at the borders and pledged to use his influence to sensitize youths across Egbaland.