Nigeria’s Anti-narcotic Agency says, it has seized over One Hundred Million pills of pharmaceutical opioid, Tramadol in the last 22 months..
The Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa made this known in Abuja during awards and decoration of newly promoted officers of the agency.
Marwa noted that the seized drugs could have impacted negatively on the Nigerian youth and national productivity.
Marwa also stated that, the Agency arrested 23,907 drug traffickers including 29 barons.
He said, “our seizure was over 5,500 tons or 5.5 million kilograms of assorted illicit drugs, which together with cash seized are worth over N450 billion.
“In the same period, we have taken the fight to the doorsteps of cannabis growers by destroying 772. 5 hectares of cannabis farms.”
According to Marwa, within 22 months, the agency has recorded convictions of 3, 434 offenders.
“We have equally made good strides in our drug demand reduction efforts where the number of those counselled and rehabilitated is 16, 114.”
He explained that, “the figures are mere statistics until you view them through the lens of human impact and the good or harm that could have come to society, the impact on public health, security as well as law and order if those dangerous drugs had gone to the street.”
Promotion/Award
Speaking on promotions and Awards Marwa said, the agency’s dedication to duty has been the driving force behind its performance.
He said, “as proven right by events in the past 24 months, management’s decision to deploy multipronged motivational mechanism to improve the organisation’s work ethic is part of the recipe for the resurgence of the Agency and the resultant spectacular performance.”
He expressed the commitment of the management to do everything possible to improve productivity of staff.
Marwa charged the promoted officers and those who got commendation awards to rededicate themselves while assuring others with such expectations to be hopeful.
He said, “last year, 3, 506 officers were promoted. This year, a total of 1,018 officers have been promoted to new ranks including two DCGN, 17 ACGN, 29 CN, 78 DCN and 111 ACN. Others are 63 CSN, 106 SN, 129 DSN, 25 ASN I, 400 ASN II, 9 CNA, 44 SNA, 3 NA and 2 NAS I.
“Promotion is a reward for industry, diligence and dedication.”
He charged the officers not to rest on their oars while also urging them to abstain from any action that could undermine the collective interest of the Agency in ridding the country of illicit substance abuse and trafficking.
While commending President Muhammadu Buhari for his relentless support for the Agency to succeed, Marwa also seized the opportunity to lead officers and their families in singing a birthday song to celebrate the President at 80th.
Confidence Okwuchi
