“NDLEA now a joke,” Peter Obi laments influx of illicit drugs into Nigeria

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party on Tuesday said the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has been turned to into joke over its inability to stop inflow of illicit drugs into the country as as result of what he described as ‘corruption and poor regulation’.

Peter Obi said this in a statement published on his X handle on Tuesday while raising concern about use of courier and delivery services by traffickers to bring illicit drugs into the country.

He noted that the trend has continued to grow despite concerns raised by the NDLEA, a situation he said is a reflection of “how weak our institutions and relevant monitoring systems are,”

The former Anambra governor noted that drug trafficking remains a big danger to society and a serious international offence that cannot be overlooked as it destroys families, fuels crime, and corrodes the conscience of a nation.

“The Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has repeatedly raised concern about this trend, yet it continues to grow, apparently aided by corruption and poor regulation that have turned the enforcement body into a joke. Drug trafficking remains a big danger to society and a serious international offence that cannot be overlooked,” the former presidential candidate said.

He added that Nigeria, a country that is already battling insecurity, large youth unemployment, and hunger cannot afford a drug-normalised culture.

“Nigeria, therefore, needs stronger oversight and must rise above this dangerous decline and rebuild a system where laws are sacred, leaders are accountable, and no one is above justice. Nigeria will only heal when character, truth, and responsibility return to governance.” Peter Obi said in the statement.

Read his full statement below

Raising Drug Concern in our society.

The recent revelation that drug traffickers have infiltrated Nigeria’s courier and delivery services sector is worrisome and another sad reminder of how deep our national decay has become. When criminal networks can now use logistics companies to distribute narcotics across the country, it shows how weak our institutions and relevant monitoring systems are.

The Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has repeatedly raised concern about this trend, yet it continues to grow, apparently aided by corruption and poor regulation that have turned the enforcement body into a joke. Drug trafficking remains a big danger to society and a serious international offence that cannot be overlooked.

It destroys families, fuels crime, and corrodes the conscience of a nation. A country already battling insecurity, large youth unemployment, and hunger cannot afford a drug-normalised culture.

Nigeria, therefore, needs stronger oversight and must rise above this dangerous decline and rebuild a system where laws are sacred, leaders are accountable, and no one is above justice. Nigeria will only heal when character, truth, and responsibility return to governance.

A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO