UN assures NDLEA of support in fight against drug trafficking, substance abuse

The United Nations (UN) has assured the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of support to succeed in its onerous task of curbing the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.

The assurance was given by the Deputy Secretary General of the UN, Mrs Amina Mohammed when she paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig-Gen Mohamed Marwa (Rtd) at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday.

Accompanied by the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Mohamed Malick Fall, the UN deputy scribe said the global body is willing to enhance the impact of the significant efforts of the Agency, adding that, “On behalf of the UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, we want to reconfirm our support from the United Nations to the work of this agency.

“From our conversation with the Chairman, the issue is clear, it involves many other sectors. We talked about the root causes, and the escape is often drugs. That is why it is important for us to work with the rest of the government to ensure that all people have a right to their dignity.

“I see this agency as a symbol that wants to do the job, to succeed. This is a challenge we will be here to support,” she said and commended Marwa for providing NDLEA with exemplary leadership.

“This is the only country that we have. And we must harness the potential through the work that we do. What we want to do is support with whatever that we can, to ensure a greater and better Nigeria that takes its position not only in Africa but worldwide”, she added.

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While appreciating the UN deputy scribe for the visit, Marwa said, “This will go on record as the first visit in history to NDLEA by the highest echelon of the United Nations. We not only commend you for this but also in equal measure, your string of impressive achievements, whether when you served as Minister at home or at the global stage where you’re currently serving as Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations”.

Marwa noted that the twin problem of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking remains one of the ferocious threats to public health and national security despite the significant efforts being made by NDLEA in the areas of drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction in Nigeria.

“With the dire consequences of the menace steering us in the face, upon my assumption of leadership in 2021, we have moved swiftly to halt the spiral turn of the situation and between then and the end of 2023, we have been able to make over 48,157 arrests including 46 drug barons with a total of 8,350 already successfully prosecuted and convicted while 7,500 tons of illicit drugs were seized from them and 1,057 hectares of cannabis farms destroyed deep in the forests in parts of the country,” the NDLEA boss added.