The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has announced its plan to deploy personnel in all 774 local government areas of the country in 2024.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) said the deployment is part of efforts to strengthen the war against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking especially in local communities.
The anti-narcotic agency boss made the disclosure while responding to a request for partnership and deployment of more NDLEA personnel in all parts of Katsina by the state governor, Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda, to tackle the menace of drug abuse and insecurity in the state.
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According to a statement issued by Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Marwa said, “With the Agency’s staff strength expected to rise to 15,000 by the end of the year, the next development was to deploy in the LGAs.
“We currently have zonal commands, state commands, and area commands. We want to go to the LGAs for the offensive action and the advocacy work. We would need more support to succeed. I appreciate the work of the Katsina governor as the challenges are numerous in governing the state. But if insecurity is a problem and is fueled by drugs, I believe we have to collectively take it out of the security equation.”
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Speaking further, he said: “The drug menace is a huge issue and has destroyed the lives of our youths and communities. It is the public enemy number one, and especially the criminal aspect of it. 99% of the criminals must first have access to drugs and be under the influence to perpetrate some of their acts. That is why the NDLEA under the collective support of the directorates and the management has put all efforts towards operation ‘offensive action.
“The preventive measure faces those who have not started or are about starting drug use. They are targeted through advocacy and sensitisation across all levels. It is for this reason we structured the WADA initiative from the National to LGA levels.
“We appeal to the government to have a state drug control committee of which the NDLEA will be the secretary and the chairperson would be the First Lady of the state. The first ladies are in the strategic position, because they are the mothers and have the best interest of the government at heart.”
