Drug Abuse, Major Cause of Nation’s Insecurity

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

Chief Executive Officer of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), has attributed drug abuse to the major cause of insecurity in Nigeria. He described it as a national tragedy and has become the nation’s number one problem.

Gen. Marwa who made the disclosure at a meeting with critical stakeholders held in Lokoja, lamented that drug abuse had led to majorly the causes of insecurity in the country.

He explained that bandits, kidnappers and several many other persons were usually on drugs, noting it has become a problem every Nigerian must all join hands together to tackle.

Marwa stated that the time for all hands to be on deck and work collectively on stemming the negative trend caused by drug abuse in the country was now, adding that the NDLEA has resolved to reduce to its barest minimum incidences of drug abuse. He noted that the NDLEA was working majorly to fight against accessibility to drugs by seizing and destroying the intake of cannabis sativa.
He added that the NDLEA was equally committed to fighting the scourge of drug supply chain and to discourage the users of the drugs.

He described the drug demand consumption level of the country as alarming, insisting that all stakeholders have critical roles to play in bringing down the demand for consumption of drugs in the country.

The NDLEA boss who urged parents to be observant of their children and wards, also said religious leaders should use their platforms to preach against the dangers of drug intake and abuse.
He described parents particularly mothers, religious leaders, as having the responsibility and burden to check drug intake and abuse, pointing out that for the country to come out of the present insecurity it has found itself, the intake and abuse of drugs must be a priority to all.

Marwa who commended the initiative by state government to establish three rehabilitation centres in their states, assured that the NDLEA was also working towards establishing one per geo-political zone of the country.

He disclosed that the NDLEA was working towards the establishment of court to try persons involved in drug abuse, assured that it would soon come on board in the country.
He assured that the NDLEA was now well positioned to change the negative drug abuse trend in the country and would work assiduously to ensure that the future of the present and coming generation was not destroyed.

Earlier in a welcome remarks, the Kogi State Commander of NDLEA, Alfred Adewumi, commended the repositioning of the NDLEA by Marwa and his dogged fight to stem and eradicate drug abuse as the scourge had negatively impacted the society.
He said the command in the state was not resting on its oars in the fight against use of illicit drugs in the state.

Stakeholders at the meeting including the persons living with disabilities, NCWS, NURTW, and others at the meeting promised their resolve to work with the reinvigorated NDLEA to reduce drastically the incidences of drug intake and abuse.