The great march: Day Obalende Says No to Drugs.

By

Emeka Ibemere

The chorus was deafening. The three times shouts of- No to Drugs! No to drugs! No to drugs kicked started the march on Saturday November 2, 2013.

The loud shouts could be compared to the shouts of a loud of A-M-E-N; in a crusade organized by a popular pastor.

But it was not a church crusade.

It was a crusade against drug trafficking organized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA in collaboration with Yinka Lawanson, a.k.a Lamboginny, an anti-drug abuse Ambassador in a one million march crusade against drug trafficking and abuse in Lagos State.

Not even the downpour of Saturday November 2 could put a hedge against their desire for the clarion call nor the scorching sun that followed the heavy rainfall that afternoon could discourage them, too.

So, in a carnival like rally, she led the pack of the amiable entertainment celebs and walked over 300 kilometres trek in the One Million Man March against Drug Trafficking and Abuse in Lagos State.

The above was how the ageless stallion of the Nigerian entertainment industry, Joke Silver led other array of celebrities in a mutiny- like action, to protest drug trafficking in Nigeria.

Joke Silva, Laide Bakare, Micheal Okechukwu, a.k.a Rugged Man, Guinness Book of Record Dancer; Kafayat Shafau (a.k.a Kaffy), Adeyemi Adeosun, popularly called Yemi Sax and notable radio broadcasters, were among multitudes of protesters in the one million man march against drug traffickers and abuse, a programme put together to sensitize Obalende and the entire Lagos residents on the dangers of narcotics. Among other of the participants were members of the United States Consulate, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Police, Nigerian Red Cross Society and the Obalende Local Government Area officials.

The great march kicked off at Obalende through Awolowo road to Dodan barrack road and back to Obalande where speeches were delivered by the notable celebs and other agencies that supported the march.

Prior to that day, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in collaboration with Yinka Lawanson, a.k.a Lamboginny, had put up together the logistics for the march.

Celebrities were massively mobilized for the event as some of them had reported for the march as early as 8Am, waiting for the kick-off of the march.

Obalende community were also mobilized against illicit drug production, trafficking and abuse in Lagos, as they turn out and cooperated with the organizers in an ever encouraging spirit. Some motor park workers and other residents of Obalende were not left out in the march as they joined in the march against drug abuse.

Passers-by who trooped out en-mass to the Obalende major bus terminal were thrilled by the calibres of their role models they watch on television and movies perform and sing on stage on that hot afternoon. The presence of these notable actors and actresses in the event, made the residents to wholly join in the trek without getting tired. It was one event that attracted all the security agencies in the country.

Each was ably represented by their personnel who provided security and peaceful atmosphere for the march; without hiccups or causing traffic jam on the routes used by the participants. It was however, the day Obalende residents vowed not to abuse drugs or trafficked in illicit drugs in all its form. The focus of the one million march was to educate the residents of Obalende and the entire Lagos State the dangers of illicit drugs and abuse.

According to the NDLEA, 16 million Nigerians abuse cannabis also known as ‘Indian hemp’. The agency says no fewer than 10 million others use one narcotic drug or the other while about seven million people in Nigeria are cocaine or heroin addicts.

“Drug abuse is increasing the number of mentally deranged youths, school drop-outs and increase in HIV/AIDS infections due to drug injection. Above all drug-related violence, terrorist acts, and drug induced crimes, like rape; murder, armed robbery and suicide were also caused by dependence on illicit drugs”, NDLEA’s sensitization letters stated.

These were also the issues brought to the front burner at the sensitization rally held last Saturday.

NDLEA personnel and many more that came to show their support for the fight against drugs also showed determination in fighting the scourge.

The rally tagged One Million March against Drug Abuse was flagged off at Obalende bus stop. Although it was a mixed gathering but the message from participants was-- Say No to Drugs.

Actress and director, Joke Silva said she was glad to add her voice to the campaign against drug trafficking and abuse. “Anybody that knows the fatal consequences of drugs will support this course. When I got invitation from Lamboginny to be part of this campaign, I was glad because to me it was a community development project and I quickly accepted it”, the Ace actress stated.

It was a fulfilled dream for NDLEA’s anti-drug abuse Ambassador and Singer, Lamboginny. In his words, “I feel fulfilled that the walk is a huge success. This has always been my dream. By the time these people took this message to their respective communities, so much would have been achieved”.

The anti-drug Agency also did not conceal its satisfaction with the entire exercise.

According to the NDLEA it was one event too many. “The Agency will continue to support quality initiative in advancing public education on the ills of drug production, trafficking and abuse. We educate members of the public through lectures and seminars”. Mitchell Ofoyeju, the Public Relations Officer, stated. “Today we are engaging disciplined and respected celebrities in the campaign against drugs. This will help to attract the attention of their fans in accepting our call for a peace and safe society”.

Some participants called on the NDLEA to ensure that such enlightenment efforts are carried out on regular basis and to ensure that culprits in the evil act are punished. The occasion was spiced with various musicians performing on stage with their lyrics. Also, a Disc Jockey, popularly known as DJ entertained the participants with various Nigerian artists’ lyrics.

  

Ofoyeju added. “The ultimate aim of this national campaign is to sensitize Nigerians on the threat posed by drug crop cultivation, production and smuggling.”  Ofoyeju who represented his chairman explained that the programme was to alert members of the public of their important civic responsibilities in the fight against drug production, trafficking and use.

He said. “Interestingly, this is in line with the mandate of the NDLEA. Section 3, subsections 1 (n), of the NDLEA Act, specifically states that the agency shall take such measures that may ensure the elimination and prevention of the root causes of the problems of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances”.

In explaining the choice of Lamboginny as anti-drug abuse ambassador, Ofoyeju said it was a way of identifying credible Nigerians with burning passion to advance the campaign against drug abuse and peddling. “Lamboginny has demonstrated that being an anti-drug abuse Ambassador is not in words and title but in deeds,” Ofoyeju stated.

It will be recalled that the NDLEA appointed Nollywood star Stella Damasus and music act, Lawanson Yinka, Lamboginny, as anti-drug abuse/trafficking ambassadors because of their proven track records. The duo was officially unveiled as the new ambassadors at the NDLEA headquarters in Lagos. Director General of the agency, Dr. Femi Ajayi, said Stella and Lamboginny were selected for the honour due to their outstanding positive impacts on youths and the society at large. Lamboginny, Say No to Crime project, he said, was worthy of emulation while Stella has been inspiring the youths through her many activities and projects.

The Director General of NDLEA, Otunba Femi Ajayi, who made the presentation of certificates to the new ambassadors, noted that they are active champions of efforts against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.

In their separate reactions, after the presentation of certificates to them by the agency, Stella and Lamboginny promised not to relent on their efforts, adding that they would do all within their reach to assist the agency and its officials in achieving their primary objectives. The One Million March event is one of those good things Lamboginny has promised to do for the agency coming few months after his appointment.

Meanwhile, the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) has been linked with ten (10) International Airports around the globe for real time exchange of intelligence. This followed the successful launch of Airport Communication Project (AIRCOP) at the Lagos airport on Monday November 4, 2013.  The project is jointly supported by the Nigerian Government, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Canadian Government, European Union, United States, INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization (WCO).

Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade during the inauguration ceremony of the Joint Airport Interdiction Task Force (JAITF) said the journey towards this laudable project was born out of the desire to make the airport more impregnable to drug barons.

“The government of Nigeria in search of how to make our airports more impregnable to drug barons had on 13^th October 2010 entered into an Agreement with the UNODC Regional Office for West and Central Africa. The project provides secure and direct connections with vetted units in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe and Latin America” the Chairman stated.

The thirty-six member Joint Task force (JAITF) headed by NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr Hamza Umar has its membership drawn from NDLEA, Customs Service, Police, Immigration and Department of State Security. They have also undergone a specialized training in preparation for the onerous task ahead.

 Giade who was represented by his Special Assistant, Mr Suleiman Ningi said that the project will increase drug interdiction capacity at the airport. In his words, “the connection of Lagos Airport to International database and communication networks will facilitate real time transmission and exchange of intelligence among members. This will empower our country to intercept illicit shipment of drugs, materials as well as curtail transnational crime”.

UNODC representative who is the Project coordinator, Mr Marc Vanhulle said the project is targeted at covering the entire trans-Atlantic route for trafficking drugs from Latin America to Europe through Africa. “West Africa is recognized as a transit area for cocaine trafficking between Latin America and Europe. More recently, the area has also become a centre for methamphetamine production and has been increasing drug use locally” Vanhulle stated.

According to Vanhulle, “an integrated regional approach like project AIRCOP is critical in addressing the borderless threats of drugs and crime. A regional response also helps to ensure that as enforcement and criminal justice succeeds in one place, the problems are not merely displaced from one place to another”.

The initial training was done by experts from the Belgian Federal Police and the British Border Force. Already, during a pilot test operation, 8 arrests in six cases involving heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine were recorded.

Giade who described the result as very encouraging assured Nigerians of improved drug control techniques. “The Agency will continue to embrace innovative strategies and programmes targeted at advancing our performance. AIRCOP is also a unifying force that promotes inter-Agency collaboration because its membership is drawn from various security Agencies”.

The NDLEA boss called on the Task Force members to justify the confidence reposed in them.  Some benefits of AIRCOP include information sharing, coordination of counter-narcotic operations, full access to international criminal databases, crime alerts as well as analytical tools provided by INTERPOL.