From March 14 to 16 2021, the newly-appointed chairman and chief executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA), Brig Gen Buba Marwa (rtd) paid a three-day familiarisation and assessment visit to the various commands of the agency and other entities that are of strategic importance to drug war in Lagos state.
Marwa appointed on January 16, 2021 as the NDLEA’s boss and resumed work the same day had immediately raised alarm that about 15 million Nigerians are involved in the drug cycle.
Then came the question as to why the country would garner such a huge population in drug trafficking and abuse despite the fact that the agency has been in existence in the country for over 30 years.
Can we align the country’s drug challenges to either the high rate of unemployment, irresponsible parenting and the get-quick-rich syndrome of some Nigerians, especially youths, or is it borne out of their exposure to foreign influences through their embrace of the ICT which remains a dragon net?However, it seems the despair is over and hope on the war against drugs is rising as Marwa takes over the mantle of leadership at the NDLEA. Indeed, the appointment of Marwa has been described by many as one of the best appointments to be made by the president so far.
Marwa is being described as the right peg in the right hole. Maybe, the hopes are rising against drug abuse and trafficking checking the fact lists of the transformation that Lagos state witnessed when Marwa was its military administrator from 1996 to 1999.With the Midas touch, his administration initiated the “Operation 250 Roads” projects which greatly improved motoring conditions in the state of aquatic splendour. It revamped public health institutions and ensured that free malaria treatment was available to all.
The introduction of tricycles, popularly called `Keke Marwa’ as a means of commercial transportation was pioneered in Lagos by the Marwa-led military administration before it extended to other parts of the country. `Keke Marwa’ has thus become a household name in every nook and cranny of Lagos state till date.
Marwa’s antecedents as a performing military governor in Borno and Lagos states as well as his service as the Military and Defence Attaché at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC and the United Nations in New York, respectively, have raised expectations of a renewed vigour in the war against drug abuse under his watch at the NDLEA.
The NDLEA boss during his familiarisation and assessment of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Command of the agency stressed that it would broaden Drug Test Regime (DTR) in fighting drug scourge in the country while addressing the officers and men there. According to him, the agency would achieve this by conducting drug tests on those that would be newly admitted into the nation’s tertiary institutions.
“Any student confirmed to be a drug user through the test would be sent for rehabilitation and that would automatically affect his or academic career. Also, students going home on holidays would also be tested.’’
Marwa added that the tests would be extended to political office holders, new employees, faith-based leaders, traders and everybody, adding that more drug free clubs would also emerge where the public would be enlightened on the challenges associated with drug abuse and trafficking.
Knowing the strategic importance and the role that the traditional institution can play in combating illicit drugs in the society, Marwa during his visit to Lagos, took time off to pay homage to the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, who joined by his white cap chiefs received him and his team warmly.
The NDLEA boss solicited the support of the traditional institution on how they can both successfully fight the war against illicit drugs in the state and in the country. He sought the Oba-in-Council’s permission to establish drug control committees in the state.
Oba Akiolu in his response admitted that the scourge against drug abuse must be merciless in approach and that he would never plead for mercy for cartels if and when caught by the law enforcement agencies as a means of ridding the state of drug abuse. The traditional ruler, however, challenged the management of the NDLEA to clear the bad eggs within its rank and file.
According to him, once there is serenity, integrity and decorum in the agency, it would be easier for it to win the drug war in the country. Akiolu also called for more funding for the NDLEA for it to be able to achieve its objectives. The chairman of the NDLEA also visited the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army where he canvassed synergy between the NDLEA and the Nigerian Army to fight the drug scourge in the country.
The donation of a speed boat to the agency by the Government of United States ( US) and the support promised by the United Kingdom (UK) symbolised more feathers added to the cap of the NDLEA’s boss during his visit to Lagos.The speed boat which has become functional would deter drug smugglers from exploiting the country’s sea borders. The two countries led by the Consul General of the US Consulate in Lagos, Miss Claire Pierangelo and the British Deputy High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr Ben Llewellyn-Jones expressed satisfaction with the successes recorded by the NDLEA”s new leadership within weeks in the saddle.
According to them, their countries would be willing to collaborate and give more support to the lead anti-drug agency in view of the dynamism and efficiency that Marwa has brought into its operations. Claire Pierangelo said that the UK government is pleased with the series of illicit drugs seized by the NDLEA in a short while. “All the seizures were soon after Marwa came on board as the chairman, the renewed vigour brought into the war against illicit drugs in Nigeria and the successes recorded from January, the UK would be glad to offer more support ,” she said.
Llewellyn-Jones also said that the renewed vigour against drug abuse by the agency would bring succor to international communities that had, hitherto, been reluctant to do businesses in the country as a result of insecurity which is hyped by drug abuse.
A nun of the Catholic Church and coordinator, African Network Against Human Trafficking (ANAHT), a non- governmental organisation (NGO), Rev Sr Patricia Egbebulem, urged the NDLEA boss to bring more NGOs on board during his tenure. According to her, that would broaden the information network that would be available to the agency which in turn boost its performance.
Marwa while addressing various commands of the NDLEA during his visit to Lagos decried the huge number of unregistered patent medicine outlets in the country of which he said statistics from the agency puts at 1.58 million, saying 58, 000 of them are officially registered. This has paved access for the sales of various hard drugs such as codeine in the unregistered stores.
It was not only knocks and pushbacks for the commands, there were thumbs up and appreciation for their break-through based on their interceptions of traffickers who wanted to either import into or export outside the country huge quantities of illegal drugs.
The agency on March 21 foiled attempts by some drug cartels to export hard drugs through some of the international airports of the country when they seized about 200 kilogrammes of the illicit substances seized.
Similarly, the agency ’s officials intercepted 40 parcels of cocaine weighing 43.1kg valued over N32 billion at the Tin Can Port in Lagos. The Commander of the Tin Can command of the NDLEA, Sumaila Ethan, reported that the consignment was put under surveillance for some days until two clearing agents, who showed up to clear it on February 8, were arrested.
There is no doubt that the new NDLEA’s boss is poised for action and ready to give drug cartels a run for their money. Within the short time of assuming office at the NDLEA, he has shown that it is not going to be business as usual for drug barons and their accomplices. NAN
