NIGERIA: The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Buba Marwa has said that more than 4,000 drug users across the country are currently receiving rehabilitation at the Agency’s facilities.
Marwa, who is a Retired Army General, said this during his meeting with Nigeria President, Mohammadu Buhari in Abuja.
Marwa further revealed that about 1,630 drug traffickers have been convicted and imprisoned.
Activities of the Agency
Since his appointment, the new NDLEA Director-General has continued to combat drug abuse and trafficking.
The Agency often announced arrests of drug dealers and confiscation of their drugs.
The Agency’s recent statistics revealed that 40 percent of young Nigerians are deeply involved in drug abuse.
The commission also said during the event that “a few days ago there were about 2 million drug addicts in Kano State, accounting for about 16 per cent of the country’s prevalence”.
Drug Abuse in Nigeria
In Nigeria, drug abuse is common among young people aged 15 to 35.
Speaking to journalists, the Head of NDLEA, Marwa also revealed that more than 4,000 drug addicts across the country are being treated in rehabilitation centres.
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Marwa said his agency has launched an advertising programme to prevent young people from staying away from unsavoury trends.
“We have seized billions of naira worth of drugs and over N100 billion cash has been sent to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and we have asked the court for collection of fine and destruction of the drugs”, Marwa added.
Since January, the agency has incarcerated over 1,630 sets of these shameless criminals and brutal drug dealers.
“We have provided counselling and rehabilitation services to more than 4,000 people in the NDLEA facilities, and the war against drug abuse is spreading to the community level”, Barwa said.
Marwa, however, briefly told Buhari the plan of the Agency about publicity work in terms of national structure, state level, local government, communities, traditional institutions, non-governmental organizations, media, families and school systems.
Marwa also stated that his organization has been approved by President Buhari to establish a headquarters for NDLEA, just like other military and paramilitary organizations.
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