FG Halts Screening Of 5’000 NDLEA Applicants Due To Covid-19

Amid the upsurge of covid-19 infections in the country, the office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN has directed the management of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to halt the proposed mobilization of about 5,000 candidates for screening in its academy in Jos.

The Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja, Dayo Akpata SAN, disclosed this in a statement made available to THE WHISTLER on Friday.

The FMOJ said that such massive recruitment should be done with caution because of the second wave of covid-19.

Recall that the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 had warned that if social distancing and other public health advisory were not adhered to, the pandemic would become uncontrollable.

On this note, Akpata said that the Justice Ministry advised the NDLEA to work out modalities with the PTF before engaging in the screening.

The full statement reads:

“The attention of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been drawn to the fact that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has directed a total of 5,000 candidates to appear at the Agency’s Academy, Citadel Counter-Narcotics Nigeria, (CCNN), Katton-Rikkos, Jos, Plateau State for the screening and documentation exercise between January 10 and 23, 2021 at 0900 hours daily.

“It is not in doubt that the exercise is long overdue and necessary for the actualization of the Agency’s mandate, however, the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice notes that the timing is ill-advised and inappropriate given the current and alarming wave of COVID-19 pandemic across the country.

” In view of the foregoing, the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation has directed that the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata, SAN to seek clarification/advice from the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on the public health implications of such an exercise especially as it relates to the adequacy/possibility of strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols by 5000 applicants at this time of the nation’s health emergency.

“Considering the above, Malami directed the Chairman of the NDLEA to stay further action on this matter pending the receipt of clarification/advice from the Presidential Task Force.

” The Chairman was further requested to notify the applicants of this development accordingly.”