Adekunle Temitope, popular Afrobeat singer known by his stage name Small Doctor has made reference to the particularly disturbing menace of escalating drug abuse crisis among Nigerian youths after a visit to his Agege, his childhood neighborhood in Lagos.
The artist made his concern known via his X handle on Wednesday after his encounter with several familiar faces from his time in the neighborhood and other young men now seemingly lost to addiction.
He noted that ‘’many were sleeping while standing” or frozen in crazy postures, visibly dazed and disconnected from reality.”
The artist made a call to all critical stakeholders, including public figures to intensify effort for stronger advocacy against drug abuse including doing that with their social media platforms.
Reflecting on a conversation he had six years ago with Fuji legend Wasiu Ayinde (KWAM 1), Small Doctor recalled being advised to set up a rehabilitation centre, an idea KWAM 1 said would become “the new oil” as the drug epidemic worsened. In hindsight, the singer admitted, “That man saw the future.”
Small Doctor wrote, “There is one bros that sings against drug abuse on socials, been a minute I came across his contents (David something can’t fully remember). I think we need him more at this moment.
“I strolled through hoods on Sunday and what I saw was heartbreaking. The rate young chaps use drugs nowadays is alarming.
“Wasiu Ayinde told me 6 years ago to establish a rehabilitation centre, stating it is the new oil. That man saw the future.
“Most heartbreaking was when I arrived in my hood, I saw some promising guys we grew up together sleeping while standing, some were even making some crazy postures while sleeping. So sad”.
