Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa has resumed office as the new chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Marwa resumed on Monday at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja where he met with the management, state commanders, and other staff members of the agency.

The former Lagos State military administrator lamented that drug abuse has eaten deep into every community in Nigeria and challenged the NDLEA to rise up to its responsibilities as the lead agency for drug war in the country.

He added that according to a UNODC report, 14.3million Nigerians between the ages of 15 – 64 years were found to be drug users, which is nearly 3 times the global prevalence.

He, therefore, promised to resuscitate the NDLEA to be able to discharge its function effectively, charging the staff to be diligent in the discharge of their duties as hard work and dedication will be rewarded.

“It is the task of NDLEA to stop all this unacceptable nonsense of drugs abuse in Nigeria”.

“As the lead agency in the drug war in Nigeria, you are all too familiar with the extent of devastation that drug use has caused our nation. Drug use has eaten very deep into our social fabric. Every community in Nigeria is affected.

“It needs repeating that the number of drugs users in Nigeria now, of all ages must be well over 15 million. If we extrapolate the figures of the recent UNODC survey of 2018 where 14.3million Nigerians between the ages of 15 – 64 years were found to be drug users, at that time, nearly 3 times the global prevalence”.

“We will resuscitate NDLEA to be fully active, to be effective, respected and be feared by all concerned criminals. Nigeria is the only country we have, we cannot fold our arms. We can, will and must eliminate the drug scourge”. Marwa stated.

He promised to look into every constraint hampering the effective discharge of duties including staff welfare issues and warned drug peddlers to desist or face the full wrath of the law.

“NDLEA will be overhauled and expanded and repositioned in line with the PACEDA recommendations, existing financial constraints, and authorization of appropriate superior authorities.

“We will put equal efforts in drug demand reduction as contained in the NDLEA Act. We will develop a strategy of work to meet our objectives, following the NDLEA Masterplan 2021 – 2025 to be released soon, as our roadmap.

“Discipline must remain job number one. It is the bedrock of an organization such as ours. With my military background, you know what to expect. I expect diligence at work and will not hesitate to penalize default. Hard work will be rewarded”.

“Finally, I would like to warn those who engage in the dastardly trade of importation, export, cultivation, processing, manufacture, trafficking, sale and consumption of illicit substances to stop forthwith or be prepared to contend with NDLEA.

“NDLEA will safeguard the nation and our youths from the drug menace. That is a task that must be done”. He assured the staff that all outstanding issues of stagnation in promotion, training, postings and emoluments will be addressed.

AFNEWS recalls President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday approved the appointment of Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd) as the New Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA).

Marwa, a former military administrator of Lagos State was until this appointment, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Drug Abuse.

Meanwhile, the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu has ordered herdsmen in the state to vacate the forest reserves within a period of seven days counting from Monday, 18th January.

The Governor also banned night grazing as well as highway and under-age grazing in the state.

according to Akeredolu in a statement issued on his official Twitter handle, the actions are part of efforts by the government to combat cases of kidnappings and other security challenges in the state.