By Rufus Divine Brooks Jr.
Contributor
President Boakai Nyuma Boakai has issued a strong and urgent warning about the growing threat of illicit drugs in Liberia, calling it a national emergency that requires immediate, decisive, and sustained action.
In a speech that has reverberated across the country, President Boakai described the drug crisis as more than a social problem- a grave and accelerating threat that risks tearing apart families, destabilizing communities, and endangering the future of Liberia’s youth.
“We cannot allow the spread of illicit drugs to turn our children into victims, our communities into ghettos, and our neighborhoods into shelters for criminal elements,” he declared with firm conviction.
His remarks cast a sobering light on the national drug crisis, portraying it as a humanitarian emergency and a societal threat that goes far beyond the realm of law enforcement.
The President warned of a bleak future if the crisis is not contained: young people losing their potential, once-thriving communities falling into decay, and safe neighborhoods becoming breeding grounds for organized crime.
“This national emergency demands more than words-it demands bold, sustained, and irreversible actions,” President Boakai emphasized.
His statement signals a shift from rhetoric to resolute action, urging all segments of society-government institutions, security forces, civil society, religious and community leaders, and ordinary citizens-to come together in a unified front against the scourge of illicit drugs.
Though specific policy measures were not detailed, the President’s call to action is expected to translate into a comprehensive national strategy.
This may involve:
Stronger law enforcement to dismantle trafficking networks and secure borders,
Preventive education campaigns aimed especially at young people,
Expanded access to rehabilitation and recovery services for addicts, and
Community-based programs offering alternatives and building resilience.
The emphasis on “irreversible” change underscores a commitment to long-term solutions, not short-term fixes, with the aim of rooting out the drug epidemic at its source.
Reassuring the public of his administration’s dedication, President Boakai declared, “We have been hard at work in this fight, never wavering in our resolve.”
This affirmation serves not only as a reassurance but as a promise from the highest level of government that combating drug abuse and trafficking remains a top priority.
The President’s message is a clarion call for national unity and collective action, urging every Liberian to acknowledge the seriousness of the drug crisis and take part in the fight to overcome it.
