The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency,NDLEA is seeking collaboration with Nigerian Army in its fight against illicit drugs and drug trafficking.
The Chairman of the agency, Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd) said collaboration with the NA in the area of training and for professional support that will aid the Agency in the fight.
Marwa stated this on Wednesday when he paid courtesy visit to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru at the Army Headquarters, Abuja
The NDLEA boss congratulated the COAS on his well deserved appointment and subsequent promotion to the enviable rank of Lieutenant General.
According to him, the fight against drug abuse like other enforcement campaigns, needs further training of the Agency’s personnel to enhance operational efficiency.
Gen Marwa attributed most crimes in the country to drug abuse adding that over fifteen million Nigerians, mainly youths between the age of 16 – 64 indulge in the use of illicit drugs. According to him, there is a nexus between drug abuse and criminality as a result of irrational behaviour associated with the illicit drugs.
He said criminals such as kidnappers, terrorists, bandits and so on perpetrate their evil acts under the influence of drugs.
He expressed optimism that if the menace of drug abuse is checked, crime rate in Nigeria will drop.
The former Military Administrator of Borno and Lagos States commended the Nigerian Army for it is playing in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse in the country and urged that the tempo be sustained.
In his response, Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru thanked the Chairman for the visit and affirmed that the collaboration between the NA and NDLEA will give the fight against use and trafficking in illicit drugs a definitive boost.
He promised that NA under his leadership will be committed in assisting and collaborating with the NDLEA to achieve the noble objectives.
The Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Air Vice Marshal Ebenezer Alade also paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Army Staff at the Army Headquarters. In his remarks, the Commandant said he was at the Headquarters to brief COAS on the activities of the College since his assumption of command as the 24th Commandant.
AVM Alade said the institution recently acquired simulation hardwares to improve Information Technology Base Study designed to put the institution in the global map.
Responding, the COAS assured the Commandant and his team of robust synergy and cooperation.
The COAS also recieved in audience the Director General, Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST), Professor Mohammed Kabiru Yakubu and the Director General National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, both of whom also came to congratulate him on his appointment and solicit for synergy that will aid them in the discharge of their constitutional roles.
COAS in his remarks assured them of NA’s continuous support and cooperation with both agencies.
Highpoints of the events were exchange of plaques and group photographs.
