NDLEA officials
PACEDA
NDLEA officials
PACEDA, NDLEA Partner to Curb Drug
Menace
There are indications that the problem of drug abuse in the country
will soon abate. This followed the visit of the Presidential
Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse, PACEDA to the
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Headquarters at No. 6,
Port Harcourt Crescent, Off Gimbiya Street, Area 11,
Garki-Abuja.
Chairman/Chief Executive, NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah
(rtd.) while receiving the Committee expressed optimism that the
inauguration of the Committee has come at the right time and would
go a long way to reinforce the efforts of NDLEA in bringing down
the rising tide of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
“There is no better time for the inauguration of this committee
made up of eminent Nigerians and professionals. We hope very
strongly that the committee will help the Agency to critically look
into the gaps militating against optimal performance of the Agency
and recommend appropriately for speedy intervention of the Federal
Government”, NDLEA Chairman further stressed.
General Muhammad Buba Marwa (rtd.), Chairman, PACEDA, commended
the efforts of NDLEA and assured that the Committee would do
everything within its powers to empower the Agency and other
relevant stakeholders to address the drug abuse crisis. “I want to
sincerely commend NDLEA on its efforts at curbing the menace of
drug abuse. The purpose of this visit is to interact with the
Agency and appreciate its roles and see if there are militating
factors. We also want to find out if we can assist in bringing the
militating factors to the attention of government. We need to see
if there are other ways and means to get the job done”, he
said.
Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, wife of the Vice-President and member of
the Committee stressed the importance and urgency of the Committee.
“We are all one step away from death, considering the threatening
drug problem. It is just for drug dependent persons to pull the
trigger because they often think they have nothing to lose. We need
to collaborate to stop the looming disaster”.
The wife of the Vice President urged the Committee to deal with
two areas of the drug problem. “We have the responsibility to help
those who are already hooked to drugs. We also have the
responsibility to ensure that those who are not yet hooked are
prevented from ever experimenting with drugs. The Committee should
look into the areas of those needs that push people into drugs,
which are social and economic and come up with appropriate
recommendations.
Jonah Achema, ACN
Principal Staff Officer, Public Affairs