The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, on Sunday disclosed that the problem of drug abuse and trafficking in Nigeria is “on its way to being under control.”
Marwa, who made the statement during his visit to New York, stressed that with adequate support from the Federal Government, foreign partners and stakeholders, Nigeria would win the war against drug abuse and trafficking.
He described the problem of drugs in Nigeria as “a ravaging epidemic” saying “it is for this reason that we remained upstanding to do our best with what we have and with the support we have been receiving from the Federal Government.
“We plan to go to local governments for sensitisation; we are constrained at this moment with the size of our workforce but with the approval of the President, we have recruited more personnel,” he said.
“We have recruited more personnel to increase our size to enable us to go into the local governments so that each local government will eventually have its own special command.
“We also have special command at the seaports, international airports and we are in the process of setting up engagement in the railway stations.
“I should add that we are collaborating with road transport workers because of this issue of drivers who use drugs to give them the capacity, in their thinking, to stay alert to drive for longer hours.
“We believe that with the support we are getting from the Presidency, the matter of drug abuse and trafficking in Nigeria is on its way to being under control.’’
Marwa said the UN Office on Drug and Crime had been supporting Nigeria in its fight against drug abuse, especially in the training of its staff and providing information materials.
He said the federal government had produced the improved fourth edition of the National Drug Control Master Plan 2021-2025 with the technical support from the UNODC and EU funding.
This document comprehensively addresses four thematic Pillars of Supply Reduction, Demand Reduction, Access to controlled Medicines for Medical purposes, and Coordination and Governance.
Speaking on if cannabis could be cultivated for commercial purposes to boost the economy of the country, the NDLEA boss said the agency is against the legalisation of cannabis, noting that “we don’t want to encourage it”.
