How Tinubu boosted NDLEA’s capacity to fight drug cartels, abuse – Marwa

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, said President Bola Tinubu has boosted the capacity of the agency to fight drug abuse and trafficking since his assumption into office in May 2023.

Marwa said Tinubu has shown great interest in the work of NDLEA and has enhanced the capacity of the agency with modern tools needed to fight drug cartels.

Marwa who spoke during his presentation at the two-day interactive Session on Government-citizens’ Engagement on Tuesday in Kaduna said the presidential support has enabled the agency to effectively deliver on its mandate.

“Tinubu administration has done a lot in addressing drug abuse and trafficking in the country; since assumption into office in May 2023, President Tinubu has shown great interest in the work of NDLEA.

“His unwavering support has enhance our intelligence and boost our capacity. We now have intelligent modern tools, operations vehicles and sophisticated weapons to protect our men and women against drug cartels,” he added.

According to Marwa, the agency had its staff strength ramped up, adding, “we are now we are over 15, 000. We are everywhere now; the airports, seaports, high ways and the sea. We even have a Marine Command now.”

He added that the good works the agency was doing was as a result of the support given to it by Tinubu.

According to the NDLEA boss, drug is among the top three challenges bedeviling the country.

“Over 14 million Nigerians are battling with drug abuse issues. From South-West Region, we have 24.4 per cent drug abuse prevalence, South-South has 18 per cent, South-East 13.8, North-East 13.4, North-West 12 per cent and North-Central 10 per cent.

“These are UN figures, and it calls for serious concern. 12 per cent is high, because in North-West, we have three million people followed by Kano with one million.

“Drug prevalence do not only harm our youths, societies and families, but also encourages criminal activities like kidnapping, banditry and terrorism.

The NDLEA boss also revealed that Tinubu had approved the building seven rehabilitation centres for the agency.

He added that the agencg had 30 of such centres in existence, but with the current addition of seven, it now has a total of 37 rehabilitation centres.

Marwa said: “This means every state in the country will have one. Also, the President has approved one modern rehabilitation centre for each geopolitical zones of the country. And we hope to start this year.’

He said that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the president was fully on track and would also help to address the issues of drug and substance abuse.

“This is because, it is packed with programmes and policies that will address idleness, poverty and unemployment.

(NAN)