By GRACE AUDU, Abuja –

 Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has charged the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) to work in liaison with other relevant agencies and the private sector to jointly tackle the menace of drug abuse in the society.

  The Minister made the call when a delegation from the PCN, led by the Chairman of its Governing Council, Prof Ahmed Tijjani Mora, paid a courtesy visit to the FCTA on Tuesday.

Bello noted that Drug abuse was a huge challenge in Nigeria as a number of crimes and criminal activities can be attributed to it. According to him, the multiplier effect of the control of drug abuse in Nigeria will be enormous.

Chief Press Secretary in the FCTA, Mr. Anthony Ogunleye, in a statement, said the Minister pledged the collaboration of the FCTA with the PCN especially in the activities of the Council’s Pharmaceutical Inspection Committee.

Speaking earlier, Prof Ahmed Tijjani Mora, commended the FCT Administration for its very robust approach to drug distribution within the Territory.

Present at the event were the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola, Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu, the Ag Secretary of the Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr Mohammed Kawu, the Registrar of the PCN Dr Elijah Mohammed and the Ag General Manager, FCT Hospital Management Board, Dr Francis Alu among others.