By Cross Udo, Abuja
Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig-Gen Buba Marwa (retd), yesterday said the agency arrested 52,901 drug traffickers, including 48 barons, and obtained over 9,000 convictions of suspects in the last three years.
This came as President Bola Tinubu expressed dismay at the havoc drug abuse has caused on individuals and families, stressing that funding evidence-based preventive measures will save lives and conserve resources that would otherwise be used on treatment and rehabilitation.
Tinubu said this in his keynote address at the commemoration of World Drug Day at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
In his welcome address, Marwa, who enumerated the achievements of the NDLEA under his watch in the last three years, said the agency’s offensive action has resulted in the seizure of over 7.6 million kilograms of assorted illicit substances, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and cannabis.
He said the agency’s success in prosecution is a testament to its commitment to bringing drug criminals to justice, adding that with a conviction rate of over 70 per cent, NDLEA has secured convictions for 9,000 suspects, including drug lords and cartels.
Speaking on the theme for this year’s Day, “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention”, the NDLEA boss said efforts of achieving a drug-free Nigeria are being led with preventive steps, one of which has been blocking distribution channels.
According to him, “The imperative to invest in prevention is dictated by evidence-based results that have shown that prevention is far more cost-effective than dealing with the consequences of drug use disorder. Because, after all, prevention is better than cure.
“At NDLEA, drug use prevention lies at the heart of our strategy in addressing the drug problem as it is: far more effective and cost-efficient to prevent drug abuse than to deal with its consequences. As part of the reforms being undertaken in the Agency in the last three years, with the support of the Federal Government and various stakeholders, we have invested in prevention programmes.
“In consonance with the theory of Demand and Supply, we have employed a balanced approach in our prevention efforts by making sure that Drug Demand Reduction efforts complement the supply reduction efforts.
“Just as we invest resources in the prevention of abuse and trafficking of illicit substances, we are also not relenting in our effort to cut off supply channels and dismantle trafficking networks. After all, when you cut off drug supplies, you deny users availability and access to them, including insurgents, terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and sundry criminals who rely on drugs to foster their criminalities.
“The magnitude of our effort is reflected in the statistics of our drug supply reduction activities. We have arrested 52, 901 drug traffickers, including 48 barons, in three and half years. Over 9, 000 of the suspects have been convicted in court. We have also seized over the same periods 7.6 million kilograms of assorted illicit substances”, he said.
*Marwa confirms destruction of 1,057 hectares of cannabis farms
He further stated that the NDLEA has launched an offensive operation targeting cannabis farms at the source, enthusing that the effort has led to the destruction of about 1,057 hectares of cannabis farms in the past three years.
He, however, disclosed that the agency is also planning an alternative development programme to persuade cannabis farmers to grow cash crops instead, with incentives attached.
Marwa said the programme is crucial, as the 2018 national drug use survey revealed that 10.6 million Nigerians aged 15-64 abused cannabis, out of a total of 14.3 million drug abusers.
“An aspect of our offensive action operation also targets cannabis sativa at source to prevent it from reaching our cities and streets. In this regard, we continually locate and destroy cannabis farms deep in the forests where they are cultivated. So far, we have destroyed 1, 057 hectares of cannabis farms in the past three years.
“As we speak, we are also ramping up plans for an Alternative Development Programme, which aims at persuading cannabis farmers to accept and grow cash crops and forgo the cultivation of the psychoactive plant.
“Of course, this will go with certain incentives. Alternative Development is very important when we consider that out of 14.3 million Nigerians aged 15-64 that abused drugs as per the last national drug use survey of 2018, 10.6 million of them abused cannabis”, he said.
Marwa further said the NDLEA has established an inter-ministerial committee known as the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), initiative, aimed at strengthening the coordination of drug control efforts in the country.
In addition, the NDLEA boss said that the committee, which he chairs, comprises relevant ministries, departments, and agencies, crucial to drug abuse prevention, including the Federal Ministries of Health and Social Welfare, Education, Women Affairs, Information, Youths, and agencies like NAFDAC and NACA, among others.
He explained that the inter-ministerial approach aims to share best practices, mobilize resources, and tackle the multifaceted challenge of drug abuse.
He said that the NDLEA’s efforts have been recognized by international partners, including the European Union, UNODC, and the US-DEA, among others, noting that the agency’s collaboration with foreign law enforcement agencies has led to the arrest and prosecution of Nigerian drug traffickers abroad.
Besides, he said that the agency’s drug demand reduction efforts have also yielded significant results, with over 33,453 individuals counselled, treated, and rehabilitated in NDLEA’s 30 rehabilitation centres nationwide.
“This is a significant achievement for Nigeria and a testament to our commitment to a drug-free society. We will continue to intensify our efforts to prevent drug abuse and illicit trafficking, and to bring drug criminals to justice,” said Marwa.
*Funding preventive measures will break the drug abuse vicious cycle, says Tinubu
In his keynote address, Tinubu said the theme of the commemoration, “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention,” underscores the imperative to commit more resources in the collective and coordinated quest to stamp out the consequences of abuse of illicit drugs.
The President, who was represented by the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, commended organisations, communities, and individuals in the country working towards preventing drug abuse and its associated harms.
According to him, illicit drugs and substances have wreaked havoc on individuals, families, communities, and countries worldwide.
He said the socioeconomic and health consequences of drug abuse are not only devastating to lives but also put a strain on healthcare systems.
He said, “Drug abuse imposes a burden on government and people and the ramifications of its consequences reverberate across generations. In the face of such a formidable challenge, prevention is the most potent weapon that we can deploy.
“Prevention not only saves lives; it also saves resources that would otherwise be spent on treatment and rehabilitation. It empowers individuals to make informed choices, promotes healthy lifestyles, and creates resilient communities capable of withstanding the pressures of drug abuse.
“Investing in prevention is not merely a moral imperative, but a prudent way of safeguarding our future. By allocating resources towards evidence-based prevention programmes, we can break the vicious cycle of drug abuse and protect our youth from falling prey to the menace.
“Prevention efforts must be comprehensive and must target all the elements of society namely schools, markets, motor parks, workplaces, and communities. It must involve all stakeholders, and we all must become stakeholders because the drug problem requires a whole-of-society approach, as no single entity can tackle it alone.
“Effective prevention requires a broad spectrum of collaboration whereby governments, civil society, academia, and the private sector work hand in hand. It also requires that we strengthen international cooperation, share best practices, and support each other in our efforts to prevent drug trafficking.”
Tinubu reassured that his administration would ensure the protection of young people from anything that could derail their future or destroy their potential.
“The assignment before us as a country requires that we prioritise evidence-based prevention strategies, allocate adequate resources, and foster partnerships for greater impact,” he said.
Tinubu added that his government will support NDLEA and other stakeholders to build on the success recorded in the past few years.
“Together, we can build a country where every individual has the opportunity to live a drug-free life, where communities thrive, and where hope replaces despair,” Tinubu declared.
