- Poverty is the Key Determinant of Drug Abuse, Trafficking Globally -Gen Buba Marwa
By Billy Graham Abel, Yola
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Gen.Mohammed Buba Marwa, has praised the courage of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over the massive support he has accorded the agency in its fight against drug abuse and trafficking in the country.
Marwa said the seamless transition of work in the ongoing construction of NDLEA barracks which started from Buhari’s government into President Tinubu’s government, shows the commitment of the Tinubu-led government in continuity in governance and in creating a safe working environment that would boost the morale of the officers and men of the agency to fight drug abuse and trafficking in the country.
Buba Marwa made this known during the inspection of the construction of the NDLEA barracks in Yola, Adamawa state.
Marwa said, the show of support from government would invigorate the officers and men of the agency to greater effort and commitment in their clampdown on illicit drug demands and use in the country.
Speaking on the progress of work at the site of the construction of the barracks in Yola, Marwa said, “This is a clear demonstration of the meaning of continuity in governance, from president Buhari to president Tinubu.
“President Buhari appreciated the peculiarity of the situation surrounding the welfare of NDLEA staff who seized, arrest, prosecute, and deal with the criminals and the criminals come after them and approved for the construction of barracks and now we have a barracks for our personnel and their families to be secured.
“President Buhari approved it and we commenced the work and president Tinubu continued it with the same zeal and drive so we appreciate this element of concern and support.
“The consultant has done a very good job. The work is in good quality, the best of materials are used and we are at about 95% completion of the job, we are hoping that by the grace of God before the middle of this year we will launch the first phase of this project and in the second phase of the project, we intend to add more blocks and other facilities.
“We will add some infrastructure to the facilities on ground including water systems, and before you know, you will be wondering whether you are in America, England, or Nigeria because the quality and standard will be the same as far as progress is concerned.
“We are targeting that before the end of this year we will have this project in all the six geopolitical zones of the country for equity and balance.
“We hope that the succeeding years and the succeeding governments will continue to ensure we have the barracks in the 36 state commands in the country including the FCT.”
On the impact of the project on the staff of NDLEA, Marwa adds that, “Our staff are now excited and motivated to do even more. This is a show of appreciation for the dedication and commitment of our staff for the fantastic job they have been doing and it only means more work.”
On the agency’s fight against drug consumption, abuse and efforts at rehabilitation of drug addicts with the agency’s innovative rehab centers across the country, he said, “Yes, there is the dearth of rehab centers in the country but the NDLEA rehab centers in the 30 states of the country are the least expensive and we will see if there is anything that could be done to ameliorate the cost but it is also part of our job to prevent the use, to lead the drive towards drug demand reduction and to our credit just within the year 2023, we have treated and released about 10,000 drug users.
“In 2018, president Buhari set up the Presidential Advosory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse (PACEDA) in the country which I was privileged to chair, one of our mandates was to determine the causes of wanton drug abuse and trafficking in the country and make recommendations.
“What we gathered then that poverty is one of the key determinants of drug abuse in all societies in the world not only in Nigeria, so fight against poverty is important because it is not only key to Nigeria.
“So, I am sure that the president is doing all he can to move as many Nigerians out of poverty within the shortest time and on our part with other relevant ministries like ministry of health, are doing our best to reduce drug demand reduction and usage in the country.
“The war against drug abuse and trafficking is war for the entire society, it is not only a job to be left for the NDLEA.
“The media is in the forefront, traditional institutions, religious bodies and all the society must be involved.”
“Days from now, we will be making a major announcement concerning a major seizure we made, we are now at the concluding stage of the investigation and when we are done, I will make the announcement,” Marwa declared.