Emeka Ibemere
June
26 every year is celebrated as the World Drug Day. It’s a ceremony
mapped out
by the United Nations through her resolution 42/112 in furtherance of the world
body in fighting the scourge of drug abuse and trafficking all over the world.
For the
Nigeria Government and its agency mandated to fight drug cartel, it was a day
to read the riot act for the perpetrators in the illicit deal.
The Agency
also used the day to roll out their drums and drum to the world their success
in the fight in the last UN drug calendar. Chairman/Chief Executive of the
National Drug Law Enforcement (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade, and the new Director
General, NDLEA, Mrs Roli Bode George, who kicked her first official assignment
with event. Others were the Representatives of the United Nations Office for
Drugs and Crime, UNODC, US Ambassador and other officers of the Agency were at
the ceremony held at the Headquarters of the NDLEA. Also handily available were
members of the newly formed Celebrities’ Drug Free Club in Nigeria, led by Mr.
Wilson Ehihon Ighodalo, President Guild of Actors of Nigeria, Ibinabo
Fiberesina, and Prince Ifeanyi Dike, Chairman Board of Trustees of the Guild of
Actors and motley crowd of journalists graced the occasion.
Ahmadu
Giade, Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA in his opening speech assured
persons struggling with substance abuse that there is hope of breaking free
from drug addiction. Giade who was happy with the event of things in his
agency, said the commemoration of the 2014, International Day Against Drug
Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is a yearly ritual and stressed that there is
hope for drug abuse patients because their case is treatable. On the official
theme of this year’s event entitled: ‘A Message of Hope: Drug Use Disorders are
Preventable and Treatable’ said the origin
of the event was traceable to December 7, 1987 when the United Nations through
resolution 42/112 dedicated every June 26 as World Drug Day.
“I present to you today; ‘A Message of Hope
that Drug Use Disorders are Preventable and Treatable’. NDLEA has drug abuse prevention experts who
carry out enlightenment programmes in schools, markets and work places. There
are also counsellors who assist drug dependent persons to overcome drug use and
addiction. Counselling services are available in all NDLEA 36 State offices and
the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. In 2013 alone, a total of 3,271 drug
dependent persons were successfully counselled in NDLEA facilities nationwide.
This comprises of 3,062 males and 209 females. We also received report of 802
treated cases from hospitals and other drug dependence treatment centres in
Nigeria”, he said. The theme according to the NDLEA boss could not have come at
a much better time considering the colossal damage caused by drug abuse.
Substance abuse alters the way people think, feel and behave. Drugs affect
cellular structure and function leading to protracted or permanent
neurotransmission abnormalities.
Director
General of the NDLEA, Mrs Roli Bode George in her own submission disclosed that
she was prepared to vigorously pursue the vision of the Agency. “My mission is
to contribute my quota towards NDLEA’s efforts towards a drug-free society.
Efforts must be geared towards cutting off drug supply to drug addicts and
reducing demand for drugs through effective enlightenment programmes. Drug
prevention programs must be elaborate involving families, schools, communities
and the media,” she stated.
George
appealed to mothers to monitor their children to know their friends and prevent
deviant behaviours. “Peer influence is one of the predisposing risk factors to
drug abuse. Mothers must take time off their busy schedule to monitor their
children and guide them on the right path in life. This is a problem that does
not discriminate, so we must take responsibility,” the DG said.
The UNODC
Project Officer, Mr. William Wu also added his voice to the message of hope
noting that the UNODC is working with the NDLEA to eradicate the problem of
drug production, trafficking and abuse in Nigeria.
Giade urged
parents whose wards are drug dependent not to die in silence but seek
assistance.
“Drug
addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain disease characterized by compulsive
drug seeking and use regardless of the harmful consequences. This clearly shows
that drug dependent persons surely need help and love just like any other sick
patient. People should seek help and in good time” Giade stated.
UNODC
estimates that about 230 million people or 5 percent of the world population
used illegal drugs at least once in 2010.
Global
treatment for drug abuse is believed to cost $250 billion dollars per year if
everyone that needed help received proper care. Apart from death, crimes
committed by people who need money to finance drug abuse habits pose a serious
threat to peace and security. There is also the attendant problem of low productivity
resulting from drug abuse by workers.
NDLEA boss
claimed that Nigeria has made a remarkable effort in drug supply control such
as high profile arrest of drug traffickers and drug seizures. Others include
destruction of cannabis farms and dismantling of clandestine drug
laboratories.
“In 2013, a
total of 8,843 persons were investigated in connection with drug trafficking.
They include 8,324 males and 519 females. Illicit drugs seized weighed
339,968kg. The breakdown is as follows; cannabis 205,373kg, psychotropic
substances 133,920kg, methamphetamine 340.8kg and cocaine 290.2kg. Others are
heroin 24.53kg, amphetamine 19.297 and ephedrine 0.28 grammes”, Giade stated in
his prepared speech.
“In
addition, a total of 847.46 hectares of cannabis plantations were traced and
destroyed. Ekiti State had the largest cannabis plantation with 324 hectares.
Cannabis farms detected in other States are as follows; Osun 197.05 hectares,
Edo 126.41 hectares, Oyo 93 hectares, Ogun 53 hectares and Ondo 51 hectares.
Devoting 847.46 hectares of land to rice production instead of cannabis will
drastically reduce the level of rice importation. The Agency also conducted
public destruction of forfeited drug exhibits weighing 145,869.525kg in four
States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja in 2013. The States are
Edo, Oyo, Kano and Ekiti. A total of 1,864 offenders were convicted by the
courts”.
Giade said
that Nigeria has made significant progress in counter-narcotics campaign.
“Nigeria has recorded impressive results in the fight to eliminate illicit
drugs from the country. The NDLEA between 1990 and 2013 made a total drug
seizure of 3,582,563.072kg with the apprehension of 87,813 suspected drug
traffickers. Out of this number, 82,295 are males while 5,518 are females.
Cannabis has the largest chunk with 3,403,041.41kg. Psychotropic substances are
next with 155,626.207kg, cocaine 20,601.123kg and heroin 3,294.462kg. A total
of 23,733 cases were also won for the period under review”.
According to
him, the scorecard clearly demonstrates Nigeria’s readiness and leading role in
securing the country from the dangers of drug trafficking and abuse. “Our first
line of action in preventing drug is to cut off supply. He further buttresses
that fact that the daily arrests, seizures of drugs and convictions have led to
the dismantling of many drug trafficking syndicates in the country.
“Imagine the
incalculable damage that 3.5 million kilogrammes of narcotics would have done
to our youth population if the Agency had not taken these illicit drugs out of
circulation,” the NDLEA boss stated.
Giade also
paid tribute to officers who had lost their lives in the line of duty.
“In spite of the daunting challenges, NDLEA
officers have continued to launch attacks on drug criminal gangs. The exceptional
spirit of dedication, courage patriotism demonstrated by officers is
commendable. Many have paid the supreme price as casualties during raid
operations yet the enthusiasm to have a drug-free society has never abated,”
Giade assured.
It would be
recalled that two weeks ago, three NDLEA officers lost their precious lives
during a deadly confrontation with drug traffickers at Owode, in Ogun State. As
the dust finally settled, Bolaji Owolodun, Rabiu Usman Kazaure and Ishaku
Joshua were found to have joined other fallen heroes bringing the number of
casualties to over a hundred since the Agency began operations in 1990.
In his
reaction, Giade said that, “the Agency will immortalize all the fallen heroes.
We shall dislodge drug trafficking syndicates and doggedly pursue the noble
course for which they died. Every opposition is a motivation for us to
intensify the tempo of attacks on drug barons. We shall continue to improve
working condition of officers. Increase in salaries, provision of logistics, regular
training and prompt payment of allowances shall continue to receive priority
attention”.
The Agency
has made great strides by building partnership with local and international
stakeholders. “In 2013, a vetted Special Operations Unit was established in
partnership with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (USDEA).
This Unit is to undertake high profile covet investigations and
operations”.
NDLEA said
they are enjoying robust working relationship with the United Kingdom, Germany,
France and South Africa, just to mention a few. This Giade claimed has
facilitated the frequent exchange of intelligence, training programmes and
joint operations. Three important control delivery cases were coordinated
between the Agency and the National Crime Agency of United Kingdom. Similarly,
two persons, Lawrence Oke and Rafiu Koforowola a.k.a. Elele/Professor were
extradited to the United States on drug related charges.
The Murtala
Muhammad International Airport Lagos was linked with other international
airports around the world under a Special Airport Communication Project. This
development was supported by the Nigerian Government, United Nations Office on
Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Canadian Government, European Union, United States,
INTERPOL and the World Customs Organisation.
A European
Union funded project aimed at supporting Nigerian government’s efforts in the
fight against illicit drugs and other organised crimes was flagged off in 2013.
This project was expected to help carry out research on the extent of drug
production and drug use, enhance capacity to address organised crimes as well
as manage drug treatment and rehabilitation. The project would help to
reposition the Agency for greater challenges in the days ahead. But what the
agency required to move this project is fund and quality leadership which are
lacking at the agency.
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