Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency,(NDLEA) Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) has assured Nigerians in the diaspora as well as members of the international community of Nigeria’s resolve to reduce drug use and trafficking to an infinitesimal level in the country, within the shortest possible time.
The Chairman stated that the Agency has decided to make sure that convicted barons and traffickers forfeit their assets to the Federal Government.
The NDLEA boss gave this assurance in his presentation at the ongoing third committee session of the 76th United Nations General Assembly, UNGA, in New York, US.
“Nigeria will remain undaunted in adopting dynamic strategies to counter new approaches adopted by organized criminals, in order to make drug trafficking unattractive while ensuring forfeiture of the criminally derived assets, a tested and powerful deterrent to the proliferation of drug crimes and criminalities”, he declared
He added that the Nigerian Government has exhibited political will by demonstrating high commitment to the protection of public health and safety with the launch of the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, a call for civil action for all Nigerians to buy in and take full ownership of the fight against the menace of illicit drugs.
“More so, Nigerias Drug Control efforts have received a tremendous thrust with unprecedented stakeholders involvement; we have engaged civil society groups, non- governmental organizations, academia and governments at all levels, public enlightenment is also being strengthened with remarkable media visibility, even as the youths are regularly sensitized on social media platforms on the ugly consequences of illicit drugs and related criminalities.
“Our consistent targeting of Drug Trafficking Organizations has resulted in the arrest of 8, 634 suspected drug traffickers and the seizure of over 100 billion Naira in cash and drugs within the first eight months of this year. Perpetrators will go through the Criminal Justice system, with their fundamental human rights, being strictly upheld.”
Marwa expressed the Federal Government’s appreciation of all international partners in the drug war. He said Nigeria is happy to report that the EU funded, UNODC sponsored Cannabis Cultivation Survey is expected to bring to the fore, the full extent of cannabis cultivation in Nigeria, and make it easier to target measures to contain this perennial menace.
He also stated that the appropriate strategies have been adopted to address the issue of stigmatization of people who use drugs, including meeting the needs of vulnerable communities and groups such as women, girls, children, internally displaced persons and so on.