The Ekiti State Government and the
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Thursday said intending couples in the state will be required to present a ‘drug free certificate’ before their marriages can be solemnised.
The decision was taken at a town hall meeting, titled ‘Walk away from drugs’, organised by the state Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the NDLEA in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.
A statement issued at the end of the event by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, read in part: “The development of intelligence sharing network mechanism at the grass-root level with a view to dismantling the cultivation, manufacturing and use of illicit drugs and arrest the drug barons and their cohorts.
“Drug-free certificate should be demanded before solemnisation of marriages; establishment of drugs control prevention committee in all communities to comprise NGOs, faith-based organisations, religious and opinion leaders, royal fathers, parents, youths and other relevant stakeholders; strong parent-child relationship should be explored to help the society restore the value system.”
