How NDLEA Will Win Fight Against Illicit Drugs- Marwa

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it has embraced a new style in tackling the complex nature of drug abuse and trafficking menace in the country.

Speaking at the 5th anniversary lecture of Presidential Diary Magazine on Tuesday, the Chairman of NDLEA, Mohammed Buba Marwa said that having the support of the public has become an important tool in the fight against drug abuse

He said, “That is why we are changing gears, to now say, let the public buy in and own the fight against controlled substances. We have decided to make the campaign the people’s war, so to speak. A case of the people of Nigeria vs. drug barons, traffickers and abusers.

“I have been going up and down the country to meet opinion leaders, organisations, royal fathers, strategic institutions, religious and civil organisations to rally Nigerians for this fight-to-finish campaign against drug trafficking.

“So far, the message is warmly received. We have the confidence that once the people are on our side; the country is on track to winning this drug war.”

Speaking further, Marwa stressed on the need for politicians seeking public office and students seeking admission into higher institutions to undergo drug integrity test.

He explained that as elections come up in the states and across the country, there is the need for the people to entrust the management of their treasury and their wellbeing in the hands of politicians that have clear minds.

He added that no public office holder under the influence of drugs can think clearly.

“Same thing applies to students seeking admission into higher institutions. Because of the evidence-based strong nexus between drug abuse and security challenges across the country, concerted efforts must be made towards tackling the drug scourge headlong.

“More importantly, our National Drug Control Master Plan has been tweaked to also focus on drugs from the perspective of public health and education issues. This way, we will be able to provide a balanced solution to the drug scourge,” he said.

He further said that mopping up the cache of illicit substances is critical in solving the problems of insecurity in Nigeria.

Accordingto him, in the past 100 days, operatives of the NDLEA nationwide have carried out non-stop offensive against drug trafficking, traffickers and abusers in order to cancel out the drug demand-drug supply equation.

He said, “We shall not relent in our objective of having a drug-free Nigeria. We have the conviction that if we can shut down the drug pipeline, cancel out the drug demand-drug supply equation and mop up the cache of illicit substances in our territory, the insecurity problem will be half solved.

“To this end, we have set up some mechanisms such as the Special Purpose Committee that draws a pool of stakeholders to join the NDLEA in advocacy against illicit drugs.

Marwa disclosed that the agency has mounted a strong campaign for the entrenchment of the Drug Integrity Test as a compulsory social process that Nigerians must observe.