Chairman/Chief Govt Officer of the Nationwide Drug Legislation Enforcement Company, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has declared that with an impressive file of 77,792 arrests together with 128 barons, 14,225 convictions and over 14.8 million kilograms of illicit substances seized previously 5 years, the period of Nigeria serving as a secure haven for legal drug enterprises is over.
Marwa said this in his remarks on the eleventh Chairman/Chief Govt Officer Awards and Commendation ceremony held on the Company’s Nationwide Headquarters in Abuja the place he charged NDLEA officers to brace up for extra tactically refined operations towards drug cartels, barons and their mules within the subsequent 5 years of his second tenure.
“After I first resumed in 2021, I promised to take the combat to the doorsteps of the retailers of demise. As we speak, the numbers communicate for themselves. By way of our collective resilience, we now have despatched a transparent message that Nigeria is now not a secure haven for illicit drug enterprise.
“It’s subsequently heartwarming to notice that within the final 5 years, we recorded important operational successes together with the arrest of 77,792 drug offenders, together with 128 recognized drug barons who have been central to main trafficking networks. We seized a complete of 14,847,486.34 kilograms of varied illicit medicine, thereby considerably disrupting each native and transnational provide chains.
“In additional strengthening the legal justice response to drug offences, the Company efficiently prosecuted and secured convictions towards 14,225 offenders, reinforcing deterrence and affirming that drug crime attracts penalties.
“In keeping with our balanced method, the Company additionally prioritised drug demand discount. By way of structured remedy, counselling, and rehabilitation programmes, 32,442 drug customers acquired skilled intervention. Moreover, 13,735 Struggle In opposition to Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation actions have been performed throughout colleges, motor parks, workplaces, worship centres, and communities, increasing preventive consciousness and citizen engagement nationwide”, a press release on Tuesday by Femi Babafemi,
Director, Media & Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja quoted Marwa as saying whereas highlighting the outcomes of the final half-decade drug management efforts of the Company below his management.
Noting that the achievements wouldn’t have been doable with out the assist of the chief, legislature and the judiciary, Marwa expressed his profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unflinching assist and the belief reposed in his management. He mentioned that the President’s resolution to increase the present management’s mandate is a name to escalate the warfare towards drug abuse and trafficking to new heights.
“These achievements should not unintentional. They’re the results of self-discipline, management, intelligence-led operations, and clear efficiency expectations. This journey wouldn’t have been doable with out the unflinching assist of the President. I subsequently want to specific my profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for absolutely the belief he has reposed in my management and in your entire workforce of this Company.
“Mr. President’s resolution to increase our mandate is a name to extra work. We guarantee him, and certainly all Nigerians, that the successes of the previous 5 years are merely a basis. On this second tenure, we are going to escalate the warfare towards drug abuse and trafficking to new heights of effectivity and outcomes”, he said.
Addressing the officers, women and men of the Company, Marwa mentioned “the following part of our operations calls for much more grit and extra tactical sophistication. We is not going to relaxation till each drug baron is behind bars, each trafficker is intercepted, each mule is caught, and each single gram of illicit drug is faraway from our streets and communities.
“There isn’t any room for complacency. We should stay proactive, intelligence-led, and ruthless in our pursuit of those that search to destroy our youth and our nationwide safety. Let me be clear: the target of this Company stays the overall disruption of drug trafficking and the safety of our communities. The expectation is sustained stress till each drug baron, trafficker, courier, and each gram of illicit medicine is taken out of our streets and communities. There can be no retreat and no complacency.”
The eleventh CCEO Awards honored gallant personnel who’ve demonstrated distinctive braveness and integrity within the line of obligation. Marwa charged the awardees to see their plaques and certificates as reminders that their arduous work is valued, whereas urging the remainder of the power to seek out inspiration of their achievements.
He concluded, “As we’re all conscious, the Instructions Awards and Commendations is an inner reward mechanism that comes after our bi-annual appraisal. It’s enshrined in our company tradition and acts as a booster to particular person and collective dedication to the attainment of organisational objectives. I consider that everybody on this organisation is in accord that we now have a way of urgency in the direction of our task.
“There isn’t any gainsaying that our dedication to obligation has been the driving power behind our good efficiency; on the similar time, it is usually not an exaggeration to say that our good efficiency is catalysed by motivation. As confirmed proper by occasions previously 5 years, administration’s resolution to deploy multipronged motivational mechanism to enhance the organisation’s work ethic is a part of the recipe for the resurgence of the Company and the resultant spectacular efficiency. On that rating, administration is dedicated to doing every part doable to enhance productiveness on the job. A part of that effort is why we’re right here as we speak.”
He equally acknowledged the crucial position of worldwide companions, sister businesses, civil society, and the media within the successes recorded thus far, calling for even deeper strategic partnerships within the years forward to guard the way forward for Nigerian kids.”