The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has recorded major victories in Nigeria’s fight against drug trafficking, with operatives seizing illicit drugs worth more than ₦1.5 trillion and arresting over 29,000 suspects within the last 18 months.
Speaking on Wednesday at the National Drug Use Summit in Abuja, NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.) said the agency also secured 5,225 convictions during the period.
According to Marwa, the summit was organised to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders in tackling the growing threat of drug abuse and trafficking across the country.
“Our operational feats in the last 18 months alone speak to this: a total of 29,262 arrests leading to the seizure of 5,305,484.88 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs valued at over ₦1.5 trillion and the conviction of 5,225 offenders,” he said.
Marwa added that the NDLEA has also intensified efforts to reduce drug demand through its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, which has taken awareness programmes to schools, communities and public institutions nationwide.
He disclosed that the agency conducted 6,645 sensitisation programmes, reaching nearly five million Nigerians, while 13,508 drug users received counselling, treatment and rehabilitation across 31 rehabilitation centres nationwide.
The NDLEA chairman also highlighted the agency’s Alternative Development Initiative, which helps cannabis farmers transition into legal cash crop farming and other sustainable sources of livelihood.
Also speaking, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, represented by Dr. Adamu Kana, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to combating illicit drug use and trafficking.
“No nation can achieve sustainable development when its young population is threatened by drug abuse and addiction,” Akume said.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) also commended Nigeria’s collaborative approach to addressing the country’s drug challenge.
Source: NDLEA
