Drug War: Nigeria seeks seamless intelligence from African States, Lists achievements
Photo Caption: Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) (Standing middle) with other Heads of Drug Law Enforcement Agencies in Africa at the ongoing 30th meeting of HONLEA taking place in Nairobi, Kenya
The Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd), has called for collaboration among African States for seamless exchange of intelligence to help the continent surmount the daunting challenge of illicit drug trafficking and abuse.
The NDLEA chairman who made the call at ongoing 30th Conference of Heads of Drug Law Enforcement Agencies Africa (HONLEA) in Nairobi, Kenya while briefing the meeting on the gains so far recorded by Nigeria in the fight against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking said, there is the need for all to put in place a national coordination mechanism that will ensure coordinated action against the menace.
According to him, the starting point is the harnessing of all the stakeholders by the national drug focal agency.
He noted that, through this national coordination and collaborative effort, Nigeria has steadily made significant efforts in tackling drug challenges and has between January 2021 and August 2022, recorded unprecedented arrests, in the region of 21,302 suspected drug traffickers, including 28 drug barons.
In the area of prosecution, Brig. Gen. Marwa said, the agency secured 3,111 convictions, and seized 5.4 million kilograms of illicit substances, while on Drug Demand Reduction, the Agency within the same period had brief interventions, counselling and rehabilitation for over 12,326 drug users.
While canvassing for regional and sub-regional collaboration, the NDLEA boss said, the global drug problem has placed higher demands on countries to work round the clock to achieve this goal and consolidate the achievements recorded.
He expressed optimism that the canvassed synergy will facilitate the speedy dismantling of drug trafficking cartels across Africa through a more vibrant HONLEA platform.
The NDLEA boss at the meeting was elected unanimously the Vice Chairman of the conference chaired by the host country, Kenya.
