Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (rtd), says the agency is determined to win the war against drug trafficking.
Speaking at the presentation of two books written by Mohammed Ibrahim, NDLEA Commander in Kwara, Marwa said the abuse of drugs by youths is frightening, adding that there is a clear nexus between substance abuse and rising crime rate.
He said the two books – Look Before you Leap and Drug Slaves – will provide the youth with information about how to guard themselves against drugs abuse while those who are victims can be treated and cured.
Marwa also called on state governments to provide lands for the establishment of the agency’s barracks across the country.
He also solicited for provision of operational vehicles to enhance the fight against illicit drugs and substances.
Daily Trust reports that Marwa had last year said the agency would establish offices across the 774 local government areas in Nigeria as part of measures to tackle the drug menace at the grassroots.
Represented by the Director of Internal Affairs and Provost Marshall in the agency, Dr. Malami Sokoto, Marwa enjoined traditional rulers to join hands with the agency in tackling the drug menace.
In his keynote address, Director General, Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Comrade Isa Aremu, advocated stiffer penalty for drug barons in the country.
He said his institute was ready to partner with the NDLEA to expand its curriculum to mainstream the campaign against drug abuse even at work places.
Chairman of the occasion and zana of Ilorin, Engineer Lanre Sagaya lamented that “the prevailing cases of Kidnapping and banditry is a result of too many drugs on the lands” adding that “4 out of every 6 youths are involved in drug abuse”.
The book reviewer, Professor AbdulRasheed Adeoye of the Department of Performing Arts, University of Ilorin, said they were written in simple languages that conveyed, cultural , political and economic impacts of drugs abuse.
Earlier in his welcome address, chairman of the planning committee, Alhaji Mohammed Tunde Akanbi, said the presentation of the books which were also translated into Yoruba, climaxd the intellectual voyage embarked upon by the author to compliment his agency’s efforts in ensuring a drug-free society.
