Amina Mohammed & Buba Marwa. |
The United Nations has assured the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, of support to succeed in its onerous task of curbing the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.
The
assurance was given by the Deputy Secretary General of the UN, Mrs. Amina J
Mohammed when she paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer
of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) at the Agency’s headquarters in
Abuja.
Accompanied
by the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Mohamed Malick Fall,
the UN deputy scribe said the global body is willing to enhance the impact of
the significant efforts of the Agency.
According
to her, “On behalf of the UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, we want to
reconfirm our support from the United Nations to the work of this agency. It is
extremely important, this is coming at a time where the challenges are more
complex. The Chairman has spoken about the needs, and we are very pleased to
hear that everyone is doing a very good job and we hope that we can increase
the impact.
“From
our conversation with the Chairman, the issue is clear, it involves many other
sectors. We talked about the root causes, and the escape is often drugs. That
is why it is important for us to work with the rest of government to ensure
that all people have a right to their dignity. I see this agency as a symbol
that wants to do the job, to succeed. This is a challenge we will be here to
support.”
The
UN Chief commended Marwa for providing NDLEA exemplary leadership. “I just have
to commend the leadership you have here, the leadership we have known for a
very long time. When we were much younger, we used to look up to the Soldier
Marwa, that led from the front with example and discipline. We see the
discipline now in your officers as we walk into the office and there is a
difference. We need more of that.”
“This
is the only country that we have. And we must harness the potential through the
work that we do. What we want to do is support with whatever that we can, to
ensure a greater and better Nigeria that takes its position not only in Africa
but worldwide”, she added.
While
appreciating the UN deputy scribe for the visit, Marwa said “We’re indeed
pleased to have you visit us. This will go on record as the first visit in
history to NDLEA by the highest echelon of the United Nations. We not only
commend you for this but also in equal measure your string of impressive
achievements, whether when you served as Minister at home or at the global
stage where you’re currently serving as Deputy Secretary General of the United
Nations. Thank you for being a shining light and a good ambassador of not only
Nigeria, but the African continent and indeed the black race world over.”
Marwa
noted that the twin problem of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking
remains one of the ferocious threats to public health and national security
despite the significant efforts being made by NDLEA in the areas of drug supply
reduction and drug demand reduction in Nigeria.
“With
the dire consequences of the menace steering us in the face, upon my assumption
of leadership in 2021, we have moved swiftly to halt the spiral turn of the
situation and between then and end of 2023, we have been able to make over
48,157 arrests including 46 drug barons with a total of 8,350 already
successfully prosecuted and convicted while 7,500 tons of illicit drugs were
seized from them and 1,057 hectares of cannabis farms destroyed deep in the
forests in parts of the country .
“On
the other part of our mandate, we have equally put in place a strong mechanism
to raise public awareness about the dangers of drug abuse. This we do through
our War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, a social advocacy campaign initiative. In
addition, we provide treatment and counselling to users in our commands across
the country, through which we have been able to counsel and treat over 29, 400
persons within the same period.
“This
is why your coming today affords us the opportunity to share with you some of
the things you can use your good office and the huge platform of the UN to
facilitate to enhance what we are doing and plan to achieve. They include but
not limited to the following: Conduct of another drug use survey that will give
us a better assessment of where we’re now six years after the last survey;
procurement of mechanical tools to destroy cannabis farms as against the
current manual system; procurement of incinerators to destroy tons of illicit
drugs seized as against the current open air burning which is not good for the
environment and public health; support for our Alternative Development
programme and
modern
forensic equipment needed in our old and new labs”, among others.
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