By Correspondent in Lokoja
The Chairman,National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brig,-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa,says drug abuse remains the major cause of insecurity in Nigeria. He, therefore, called on security challenges and critical stakeholders to support the agency in tackling the menace.
Marwa,who stated this on Friday in Lokoja during stakeholders’ meeting on the fight against drug trafficking and abuse, described the development as an ugly situation and a national tragedy.
He also expressed concern that bandits, kidnappers and many other persons engaging in insecurity across the country were usually on hard drugs, saying that Nigerians must join hands with the agency to reduce menace to the barest minimum.
The NDLEA boss said the agency had not relent effort in the fight against hard drugs, adding that it had intensified efforts in seizing and destroying the supply of carnabis sativa and other related illicit drugs, among other measures.
Marwa, however, noted that the drug demand and consumption level of the country was alarming, reminding stakeholders in the crusade against drug abuse, that they had critical roles to play in bringing down the negative development.
The Chairman also urged parents to observe the conduct of their children and wards and called on religious leaders to always use their platforms to preach against drug abuse.
Earlier in an address of welcome, the Kogi State Commander of NDLEA, Alfred Adewumi, commended the repositioning of the NDLEA by Marwa administration in the fighting agains drug abuse syndrome, with a view to reducing the menace to the bearest minimum.
The commander,who observed that the scourge had negatively impacted on the society, said the Command was not resting on its oars in the fight against use of illicit drugs in the State.
Our Correspondent reports persons living with disabilities, NCWS, NURTW, Civil Society Organisations and the Media were among the critical stakeholders that attended the meeting with many of them promising to work with NDLEA to reduce the scourge drastically.
In his contribution, Mal.Ibrahim Yahaya,who represented the National Union of Road Transport Workers at the meeting,sought the support of the agency in providing the union with a device to able it detect the presence of illicit drugs in travellers’ luggage.
He said this became necessary because most time, drivers were at the receiving end whenever their passengers were arrested by the officials of NDLEA.
