From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. General Mohammed Buba Marwa has attributed the cause of rising insecurity bedeviling Nigeria in recent times to drug abuse.
The NDLEA Boss stated this at a meeting with critical stakeholders, held in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital over the weekend.
The Chairman/CEO hinted that bandits, kidnappers and other persons engaged in acts of criminalities in the country are usually on drugs with a call for a joint effort to tackle the menace.
He said that the time for all hands to be on deck and work collectively in steming the negative trend caused by drug abuse in the country is now and reiterated the resolve of NDLEA to reduce to its barest minimum incidences of drug abuse.
He said the NDLEA is working majorly to fight against accessibility to drugs by ceasing and destroying the intake of canabis sativa.
He added that the NDLEA is equally committed to fighting the scourge of drug supply chain and to discourage the users of the drugs.
He described the drug demand consumption level of the country as alarming, insisting that all stakeholders have critical roles to play in bringing down the demand for consumption of drugs in the country.
He said the process to reducing drug intake and abuse starts and rest with the family unit, called on parents to live by example.
Brig Gen. Marwa urged parents to be observant of their children and wards, also said religious leaders should use their platforms to preach against the dangers of drug intake and abuse.
The NDLEA Chairman also advised parents on the need to carry out drug test for intending couples as a way of checking drug intake and abuse.
He described parents particularly mothers and religious leaders, as having the responsibility and burden to check drug intake and abuse, said for the country to come out of the present insecurity it has found itself, the intake and abuse of drugs must be a priority of all.
The Chairman commended the initiative of Kogi State Government to establish three rehabilitation centres in the state disclosing that NDLEA is also working towards establishing one per geo political zone in the country.
He further disclosed that the NDLEA is working towards the establishment of Court to try persons involved in drug abuse, assured that it would soon come on board in the country.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Kogi State Commander of NDLEA, Commander of Narcotics, Alfred Adewumi, commended the repositioning of the NDLEA by Brig Gen Buba Marua towards fighting the drug abuse syndrome and it’s negative impacts in the society.
He said the Command in the state is not resting on her oars in the fight against use of illicit drugs.
Stakeholders at the meeting including the persons living with disabilities, NCWS, NURTW, and others in their contributions, assured of their resolve to work with the NDLEA to reduce drastically the incidences of drug intake and abuse.
