Nigeria’s Anti-narcotic Agency, the National Drugs Laws Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), says it’s planning various improvement methods that may take drug cartels out of business and shield the surroundings from the damaging results of illicit drug cultivation and manufacturing.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, retired Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa disclosed this whereas outlining efforts by Nigeria to curb the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug manufacturing and trafficking in his presentation on the third committee session of the continued 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), in New York, USA.
According to him, Cartels concerned in illicit drug cultivation are inflicting deforestation, leading to environmental degradation.
“In search of a lasting solution, we are working to implement an alternative development plan. This will provide cannabis farmers with better options, like agricultural loans and improved seedlings.”
Marwa lamented the rising on-line actions of drug traffickers, after the COVID-19 pandemic, saying, “this will require collaboration and capacity-building to neutralize the growing threat.”
He stated, Nigeria can also be strengthening its authorized framework by means of on-going amendments to related drug legal guidelines.
“Our bilateral and multilateral cooperation efforts have been expanded through the signing and renewal of memoranda of understanding with countries and agencies. This has helped to deepen intelligence sharing, exchange programmes, joint operations, and capacity building, among others.”
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Marwa stated the Nigeria’s premier anti-narcotics company will proceed to determine gaps and construct bridges, each in dismantling drug trafficking cartels and offering entry to remedy and counselling providers.
“More policies to protect vulnerable groups such as women, children, and displaced persons will be implemented. To maintain a clear lead over drug trafficking groups, we will continue to engage in thoughtful regulations and targeted strategic law enforcement that are intelligence-led and human rights-centred.”
Marwa famous that NDLEA can even leverage stakeholder collaboration “as we make progress in the implementation of the SDGs.
“No stone must be left unturned, and no community, group, or individual must be left behind. We must extend the fight against drugs on all fronts and ensure that our communities are safe, healthy, and peaceful.”
He added that Nigeria is adopting a whole-of-society method to countering the challenges of drug trafficking in keeping with the 2030 SDG agenda, which seeks to promote the rule of legislation, well being, peace, and justice.
“Therefore, while ramping up law enforcement efforts to halt the illicit supply of drugs, we are equally promoting evidence-based drug prevention, treatment, and care programmes.”
While stating that Nigeria is concentrating efforts on mitigating the challenges of narcotic medication, Marwa declared that, the drug demand discount methods are additionally serving to to tackle the issue of stigmatization and discrimination in opposition to individuals with drug use issues.
