A group under the aegis of Sharing Education and Learning for Life Foundation has called on the Plateau State Government to enact a law banning the production and consumption of illicit drinks in the state.

The group also said most violent incidents in the state were mostly perpetuated by consumers of such illicit drinks and drugs.

Speaking at a two-day training in Jos, the State Capital, organised by the Civil Society group and some volunteers, Beji Jibe, the Program Coordinator said the training is to equip participants on the issue of policy to influence.

He said, “We have been doing a lot of work around peacebuilding and we discover in the course of the work there are certain systems or structures that do not allow the work we do to gain the kind of impact expected.

“Certain policies need to be in place so that this work can be beneficial to the people.

“For instance, part of the challenges we face with young people is this issue of drug abuse and drug abuse is directly linked to peace, particularly, using the Plateau example.

“Over the years, with all the issues we have suffered, whether it is the consumption of illicit drinks or its brewing, up till now, there are no laws prohibiting the brewing and consumption of illicit drinks.

“And there is no place you will see violent incidents in Plateau State that you will not link it with drug abuse”, he maintained.

“Therefore, we are concentrating on policies now because we discovered that we will not be able to make any significant progress in the work we do unless we have these policies or laws in place; and then we follow up on their implementation “, he explained.

“No matter how you arrest the consumers of these illicit drugs, it will not make any difference as long as people are still brewing, and is a legal business for them to continue to carry out.

“Therefore we are calling on the Plateau State Government to make a law banning the brewing and consumption of illicit drinks in the State.

Speaking on other issues aside from drug abuse, Jibe said, “There are many other issues militating against the effective contribution of Civil Society Organisations within communities.

“An example is; before now, you will agree with me that one of the encumbrances young people suffer in politics is the issue of age, that you have to be 40 years old before you contest for an elective position in the country.

“However, YIAGA Africa was able to work assiduously to get that law passed and the constitution was amended to allow for a much younger to emerge in any elective office.

“So there are no laws that constitute a stumbling block for any young person”, the Program Coordinator further explained.

“But, new challenges have emerged, which is that the political parties require huge sums of money when you want to purchase their forms.

“In the last general elections, the form for the presidency was as much as N100 million, how many young people can afford that amount? He decried.

“Since we already have the law in place for young people to participate in politics, the monetary aspect will require more engagement”, he stressed.

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