World leaders speak on International Day against Drug Abuse, Illicit Trafficking

• UN Secretary-General urges International Community to strengthen efforts to confront illicit drugs

Emeka Ibemere with the Agency Report

Do you know that drug abuse and illicit trafficking have calamitous consequences for the world’s efforts to deliver greater prosperity and equality for all and that there are up to 200,000 preventable deaths each year from overdoses with illicit drugs spawn criminal violence and weaken a state’s essential institutions?

If you don’t know, then know it that countries emerging from conflict or escaping economic decline can be overwhelmed when illicit drugs pour across their borders.

The United Nations, working across peacekeeping, law enforcement, health, human rights and other related areas, is strongly committed to helping them repel illicit drugs and prevent spill-over from becoming takeover.

“On the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, I urge the international community to strengthen its efforts to confront illicit drugs as an integral element in building a safe and sustainable future”, Ban Ki Moon, United Nations Secretary-General stated on the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Executive Director of UNODC, Yury Fedotov, speaking on balanced, cooperative, integrated approach, said it’s a guarantee for sustained success against illicit drugs. According to him, illicit drugs threaten people’s health and welfare. He said up to 200,000 people die every year due to illicit drugs; but drugs do not just affect the user, they cause tremendous hardship and misery to families and loved ones.

“Drug use disorders undermine close relationships, damage home lives, including those of children, and can ruin education and employment opportunities. Their impact is felt in communities, criminal justice systems and across society”, he stated, Yury Fedotov said

UNODC’s theme for this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking offers a message of hope: Drug use disorders are preventable and treatable. Those who suffer from drug use disorders can be supported through evidence-based treatment, and many of those who die, do so from overdoses that are preventable. Children and young people must also be educated on the dangers of illicit drugs.

“My message today has three components. First, sustained success against illicit drugs requires a balanced, cooperative, and integrated approach founded on the conventions that address both supply and demand reduction. Second, a balanced approach includes comprehensive measures focused on prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and social protection and cohesion. Third, science holds the key. UNODC is bridging the gap between science and practice by fostering a dialogue between policy makers and the scientific community”.

He disclosed that together these elements form part of UNODC’s global mission to promote and support access to drug dependence treatment and care services and HIV prevention, for people who use drugs, in line with human rights standards. On this International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, it is important to remember that drug use disorders are preventable and treatable and that where there is help, there is also hope.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade assured persons struggling with substance abuse that there is hope of breaking free from drug addiction. This was his position at the commemoration of the 2014, International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The theme for the celebration is A Message of Hope: Drug Use Disorders are Preventable and Treatable. The origin of this event is traceable to December 7, 1987 when the United Nations through resolution 42/112 dedicated every June 26 as World Drug Day.

According to Giade “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”.

Director General of the NDLEA, Mrs Roli Bode George said that she is 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.

Roli appealed to mothers to monitor their children to know their friends and prevent deviant behaviour. “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 added.

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.

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.

Nigeria has made 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.

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.

Special Report: WORLD DRUG DAY: 230 million people use illicit drug-UNODC ....Nigeria vows to sustain drug war

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.

Sports is the only antidote to crime and Boko Haram- youths development expert

 He has committed much to youth development and he has been at the vanguard of using sports to take away arms from the hands of the youth and solve youth restiveness. With his Multiple Sports Services organization, Onyemaepu Teddy Oscar, the President of MSS and a political analyst based in Lagos State and Abuja, who has a working agreement with Oriental Warriors of Nassarawa State, FC told Emeka Ibemere, that with huge investment in sports by both the Federal and State governments, that youth restiveness and Boko Haram will be a thing of the past, excerpts

Sports development in Nigeria is at all -time low. Do you think the sector is getting what it’s supposed to get in developing sports in Nigeria?  

I cannot say yes or no because of the present situation of things in Nigeria. Those days, you will hear Faliat Olokoya, Merry Onyeali, Innocent Egbunike and others but now I cannot close or open my eyes and mention any athlete been proud to say that was discovered in the last decade who is a champion in his or her area of endeavour. Now we are losing our athletes to other countries. Sports in Nigeria are having a big challenge. And the Federal, States and Local authorities are not interested. The corporate entities, private sectors and individuals are not also interested, too. Let me tell you the truth, nothing is working in Nigeria. I’m tempted to say at times that military government is better than Nigeria. All those years of our success in sports were the days of military rule.

Check it out as a journalist. Those days we won laurels in sports, those days we had good athletes in this country were the days of military. The civilian system has not offered us the opportunity to discover and make successes in sports because the managers of our resources are selfish and corrupt.  No more school sports, national sports festival, Nigeria Universities Games Association, where young athletes are discovered are no more because governments are no longer interested in developmental sports. No grassroots programme for sports in this country.

As an expert in youth sports development, what are the things required of the government to do to develop sports again in Nigeria?

It’s very simple. The only way is to create a programme where hidden athletes will be discovered. Government should have a programme in the States, local governments, at the national level, even in churches, in mosques, schools, community levels where hidden athletes would be discovered. And government should diversify their sports and not only centralising on soccer alone.

They should try and develop, track and field, table tennis, long tennis, rugby, boxing, taekwondo, and others not only football alone. If governments should organise yearly events for all the states, in all sports event where all the states would be competing among each other, you will see that the youths will be busy every year by engaging themselves in training preparing for the yearly event and by so doing, using the sports to reduce crime and youth restiveness. When your mind is centred on something you want to achieve, you will see that your mind would be engaged and you won’t even have time to think of crime to commit.

 When people don’t have something to do, when a woman has nothing to do, he or she will engage in crime- Armed robbery, kidnapping, prostitution, Boko Haram and others.  Sports will enhance this country and it will create job opportunities and create wealth. Sports are good instrument to fight poverty. Private sectors are not investing into sports because the government is showing less concern to it. 

What is your rating of our national team in the ongoing World Cup in Brazil?

Our Super Eagles are going to surprise the world. This current world event is defying predictions and disappointing pundits. Small nations are putting up strong games and Nigeria is going to make it successful at the end of the day. Again, this is why I said, government should be involve in sports and take it as part of the policy in rebuilding Nigeria and achieving peace. The only thing that brings this country together is sports. When Nigerian team is playing, one can mistakenly embrace a Boko Haram member.

Boko Haram will embrace you, he will forget his Bomb if Nigeria scores in a final of world cup at that particular moment, that sports is the only unifying factor in this country. Even armed robber loves football, prostitutes loves sports, if you see Nigerians watching the Super Eagles; your enemy would hug you when they score, especially in a crucial game. When two of you see yourself, he will laugh, you will laugh and settlement starts from there.

The cord of Nigeria can only be cemented by sports and nothing else, but here the government is interested in irrelevant things and instead of developing sports they are busy stealing money they could have used to develop sport for themselves alone. So sports are the only unifying factor that doesn’t discriminate. It has no tribal marks. The only language it hears is victory and success. If Nigerian politicians can unite the way the Super Eagles’ players unite to fight their common enemies, Nigeria would have gone far beyond America. It’s only in sports that you can see a poor man and the rich embrace each other.

Looking at the present insecurity in the country, what would you say about the recent invasion of Imo and Abia States by some suspected members of Boko Haram?

Actually, that is another mistake on the part of the insurgents. It’s an error in an error. If indeed those people were truly Boko Haram and were making attempt to penetrate the South East that is the beginning of their end. The Easterners, Igbos to be precise, are not people you can just intimidate. If the matter goes unimaginable, they have everything to fight back. If those people were truly members of Boko Haram trying to enter east, it signifies danger for the unity of the country and the Igbos are going to encounter them by all means possible.

There was even a report that a bomb was planted in one of the churches in Imo State, and the purported arrest of 468 members of the insurgent group who couldn’t explain their mission to Rivers State, but if indeed they were Boko Haram, that means there is problem in the polity. They should remember that the zone fought three years war and the experience, the pains and the agony of that war is still fresh in the minds of Easterners.

Boko Haram should know that the zone once fought for their liberation, for their emancipation and the blood and spirit of resistance are still with them and wouldn’t tolerant any other thing that would provoke them into going into another war. Let the so-called invasion of the Igbo land by Boko Haram be seen as a joke and let it remain as a joke.

Looking at the present security situation in the country and the approaching 2015 general election, do you think there will be election?  

Definitely there will be election. I think our brothers in the North are aware of the politics of Boko Haram. The insurgent group has a political undertone and its being fertilized by the big silence of the Northern elites. If the accusations pointing to the fact that they want to truncate the 2015 elections are true what I ask is at whose advantage? If they truncate it, the situation will remain status quo ante. The election in my own opinion will be conducted and nothing will happen. They will only make the most noise and life will go on. Nobody is above the country and no section of the country is bigger than the nation.

Is there anything in your opinion that suggests that President Jonathan wouldn’t contest the 2015 election?

Everything depends on him and the constitution. If the constitution allows him to contest and he decides to contest, there is no problem as long as he qualifies to run for the presidency of the country. It’s not in our character as Nigerians to say, you are not going for your constitutional second term. Every Nigerian man/woman is an adventurer. Jonathan may wish to step down if the pressure becomes too much but the way I’m seeing things, he will contest in 2015. The North should stop mounting unnecessary pressure on the President. You don’t get power by mere intimidation and they should know that nobody has the monopoly of violence. The President should be supported rather than distracting him.  The president is human being, I cannot say he has done 100% and nobody can achieve that. Again, he has not being able to achieve because of the gang-up against him. Many people, especially the opposition and some elite politicians don’t like him but the masses love the man; and this hatred could be because of the quietness of the President. He has tried but yet he has a lot to do. He should be decisive in taking action. He is a core civilian and democrat but he has to know that he is the President of the country; he should be decisive. People shouldn’t compare him with the former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was coming from the military background. He is one with decisive aura and quickness in taking action because he is a thorough breed soldier with flair of executive fiat.

  Jonathan is trying to follow due process of democracy but Nigerians because of age-long military rule developed military mentality in doing things and because of that anybody that is not acting in such a manner is slow, not intelligent, is underrated and disrespected. To them, the person is a failure. But it’s wrong. People shouldn’t under such military premise judge the president and say he has failed.

The political year is drawing to a close and assessing the governors, who would you say has done well in the last four years?

The Imo State governor has done well. But so far, some of the PDP governors, like Delta State governor, Fashola in Lagos State, Akpabio in Akwa-Ibom State, Aregbesola in Osun State is another man who has tried to alleviate the suffering of the masses through his people orientated programmes. Other governors especially those in the north have not been able to do anything because of the Boko Haram challenges. Whether they are the ones behind it or not, it’s a problem they are facing and it’s affecting development in those areas.

What is your advice to youths who are taking arms against the nation and innocent people?

What are you going to tell somebody who after graduation from the university he has no job? Remember, he must eat, clothe himself, live in a house, transport himself, raise family of his own, take care of his aged parents who sent him to school and would want to care of his health but there were no money to execute these necessities of life. Now somebody from somewhere come and gives not even promise him N7million and say go and bomb so, so and so place. That looked at the money and for over six years after graduation, he hasn’t seen N10, 000 in his life before and I tell you he will take it as a risk and carry out that evil.

This is what the government is not considering at all. When everybody is engaged, everybody is working; my friend there will be nobody who would like to carry arms. Idle hands are devil’s workshop.  Get the youths in the north engaged and you will see that Boko Haram will die naturally. Many crimes will go. Does crime glorify a nation? It is not the issue of tribe or Muslim and Christian; it’s about government not been able to create jobs.