Follow Us on Google
From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Gen Mohamed Marwa (retd), said the agency is working in partnership with other security apparatus to ensure that Nigerians have a safe election experience, devoid of violence.
In addition, he expressed the readiness of the agency to mob up dangerous substances from any nook and cranny of the country before the general elections.
Speaking in Abuja at the 15th year anniversary of the Human Right Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, Gen Marwa stated: “We shall redouble our effort to make sure we take out of the system substances that can catalyze violence.”
He spoke through the Secretary of the agency, Shadrach Haruna, who represented him at the ceremony.
Speaking on the theme” How Hard Drugs Fuel Election Violence in Nigeria”, Marwa noted that a world devoid of illicit drugs is a safer place.
“Indeed, there will always be conflicts and conflicting interests in society, but as we have learnt through decades of experience, the situation becomes more dangerous when illicit substances are in the mix, and even more precarious during the season of election.
“Even as we celebrate this milestone, permit me to remind us all that the election season will be upon us soon and all hands must be on deck to ensure that we steer the ship of this country to safe harbour. In this, everyone has a role to play. As an element of the Fourth Estate of the realm, HURIWA’s watchdog role is crucial to the success of the entire process.
“For us as a nation, the election period is filled with anxiety because of its attendant cycle of violence and social upheaval, often caused by unscrupulous politicians who in their do-or-die effort to capture power resort to underhand tactics including arming thugs to disrupt the electoral process. Not only do such behaviours disenfranchise others and prevent them from exercising their civic duty, they inevitably jeopardise peace and security in society.
“We are aware of the role of illicit substances in the escalation of violence and breakdown of law and order. Psychoactive drugs like methamphetamine, pharmaceutical opioids and cannabis are accompaniments to the tools of election violence.
Read also: Bauchi SWAN 2022: Correspondents’ Chairman receives trophies, presents award, laurels to winners
“In this regard, we will rev up our offensive action as the country draws closer to electioneering campaigns, by deploying the full resources and assets of the Agency to track, discover, interdict and mop up dangerous substances from every nook and cranny of our society.
“We have made important seizures in the past two weeks, including 2.3 million tablets of illicit pharmaceutical opioids and 3 drums of methamphetamine, which if they had fallen into wrong hands would no doubt play destabilising roles in the months ahead.”
He assured Nigerians that the NDLEA is working towards a peaceful poll and will not relent in its effort to cleanse the country of illicit substances.
“You can look forward to further positive results in the weeks and months ahead,” he stated.
Marwa commended the efforts by HURIWA for being a beacon of hope that people in power and in positions of authority will be held accountable for their action, and that justice and equity is assured for every member of society.
In his speech at the occasion, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Narcotics Drugs, Dr Francis Agbo, backed the call by the NDLEA for politicians and public office-holders to undergo drug integrity tests before assuming duties.
Agbo, a House of Representatives member from Benue State represents Ado/Ogbadigbo/Okpokwu federal constituency in the 9th assembly.
He disclosed that a bill for a holistic amendment of the NDLEA Act shall be passed into law before the expiration of the present administration.
While calling on Nigerians to support the efforts of the NDLEA toward a drug-free nation, the lawmaker said one of the ways is to increase funding for the NDLEA so the agency could carry out its functions effectively.
To achieve this, Dr Ottah Agbo proposed a restructuring of the laws establishing the Police Trust Fund Act to include the NDLEA as a beneficiary.
He disclosed that a bill seeking to amend the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) law to check the incidence of light sentencing for drug offenders, has passed second reading in the Senate.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N 30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 provides for stringent penalties for persons involved in the importation and exportation of hard drugs such as cocaine or heroin.
Earlier in his welcome address, HURIWA National Coordinator/ Founder, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, insisted that all candidates vying for various offices in the forthcoming general elections should be tested for drugs.
He noted that it has become important for Nigerians to know the mental health of those they want to elect, adding that someone in their right senses will not have the courage to siphon billions of dollars from the country’s coffers to himself except motivated and pushed by drugs.
He called on Nigerians to rise up against all forms of human rights abuses in the country.
