Akwa Ibom government has commended The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the state for impounding and destroying 2.768 tonnes of illicit drugs worth N2bn.
This is just as the state promised to support all efforts towards the attainment of zero profile cases of drug-related offences in the state and Nigeria at large.
In a statement issued Thursday and made available to newsmen in Uyo by the press secretary to the deputy governor of Akwa Ibom state, Mr. Ekikere Umoh after the agency’s chairman, Brig. General Mohammed Marwa (retd), paid a courtesy visit to the deputy governor, Moses Ekpo, at Government House.
The statement said the deputy governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo, while commending the agency said the efforts of the NDLEA has resulted in the upsurge of drug seizures, arrest, and convictions at critical drug corridors across the country.
He addad that the Akwa Ibom command made a recent arrest and seizure of 90 kilograms of substance suspected to be Amphetamine, and others.
Ekpo while acknowledging the positive report- card of the Agency, commended Marwa, noting that his appointment has positively altered the performance narrative of the agency nationwide.
“This has rubbed off on the Akwa Ibom state office, with the result that we have been able to more effectively contain the challenges of drug abuse and illicit trafficking,” he stated.
The deputy governor urged the federal government to empower the NDLEA with more funding to enable them to not only give support to state offices but procure needed work tools for a revolution in the fight against unhealthy drug use.
“I call on Nigerians to team up with the government in the war against drug use and illicit trafficking. The negative implications of drug abuse are far-reaching, including adverse effects on the health of our people, avoidable road accidents, and drug-related criminality,” Ekpo stated.
