The Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics has assured the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of its full backing through legislative support and other necessary laws in combating substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
The assurance was given when the newly appointed Chairman of the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, Senator Joseph Ikpea, paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), at the Agency’s national headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
Senator Ikpea disclosed that he visited Marwa to learn and partner with the Agency, expressing delight at the opportunity to work with him, given his record of achievements as Military Governor of the old Borno State, Military Administrator of Lagos State, and, more recently, as the CEO of NDLEA.
“I have heard so many positive things about you as a sincere, straightforward, passionate and committed person especially your achievements as Military Governor in the old Borno State and Military Administrator of Lagos State as well as your current engagement as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA where you’re also making great impacts.
“So, I’m here to learn and partner with you so that our children who have gone into drug abuse we can get them out through rehabilitation and prevent others from falling into the drug trap through massive awareness creation and sensitization programmes aimed at prevention,” he stated.
“We are happy to work with you and support you in all of these because we know you’re already doing a great job but not getting as much as you need to do the work. So, we will partner with you through legislative support and necessary laws to subdue the drug problem in our country,” he added.
In his response, Marwa thanked the Senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District for the visit and assured him of the Agency’s preparedness to work with him and the Senate Committee.
The NDLEA boss congratulated him on his appointment as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, stressing that such a position could only have come as a result of his track record as an upright person.
“The drug problem is a major challenge that is at the root of some other social issues, not only in Nigeria but globally,” he said.
Marwa continued: “However, I must say that we are doing our level best to curb the scourge and we are getting impressive results, including the dismantling of major transnational drug cartels, arrest of high profile barons and weakening their financial base through the seizure and forfeiture of their assets, and all of these could not have been possible without the unwavering support of President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly through the Committees in the Senate and the House as well as the Judiciary.”
He assured that the Agency would continue to remain proactive in its drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts across the country.
“We are proud and delighted to have you as Chairman of the Senate Committee, and we pray that at the end, it will be on record that you did your best in support of the drug war in Nigeria,” he added.
