Partnering With NDLEA To Fight Drug Addiction And Trafficking Among Our Youths -By Princess (Amb) Afoma Ojei-Adigwe

As a person who has worked closely with the youths and other vulnerable groups in our society, I see the war against the menace of drug abuse and trafficking as a bounden duty. I have been in the business of youth counselling and empowerment for over two decades now and within this period I have witnessed first-hand the ravages of drug addiction and dependency on the youth segment of our population; that is supposed to be the most productive segment of the society. The figure from the drug regulatory agencies both local and international about the volume of substance abuse in our country is both staggering and frightening. Drug cartels are expanding their networks by day and devising new methods of plying their illicit business and luring our youths away. It has reached a pandemic proportion that requires a state of emergency in the fight against drug abuse and trafficking.

My curiosity and concern has led me to inquire about the activities and challenges of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), our local narcotics agents and its onerous task to rid our country of the scourge of drug abuse and my discovery about the activities of the agency was quite encouraging. The agency has done quite a lot under the leadership of Brigadier general Buba Marwa (Rtd) to meets its mandate including staff training and motivation. In my own assessment the agency has been able to carry out its enforcement functions creditably well under its current leadership. And its operational modalities are line with global best practice. Among other accomplishments, the agency has been able to identify some drug cartel rings and successfully effected their drug supply disruption. It has also designed an alternative development program that will enable local growers of cannabis to switch to growing of legitimate crops; the program that has been internationally acknowledged as the first of its kind in Africa.

However, the task ahead of the agency is not just enormous but overwhelming therefore requiring more effort from all and sundry. It is said that security is every body’s business. The fight against drug abuse and trafficking is a national security issue and should be everybody’s business. The drug issue is a canker worm that is eating deep into the lives of our youths, creating both economic and social problems in our society of today. I believe the fight against drug should be total and should be the business of all. We don’t know who would be the victims of drug addiction and dependency. It could be your child, brother, friend or relations; name it.  

Clearly, the place and the importance of the youths in the future of any nation cannot be over-emphasized. They are as we often say, “the leaders of tomorrow”. A drug-dependent youth cannot be productive and even if engaged in a productive venture cannot fully optimize his potentials. Our corporate bodies, government agencies, our inter-faith organizations, schools and NGOs should support the War Against Drug Abuse and trafficking. While the other organizations might not be involved in the core operational issues like arrest, surveillance and prosecution they can help in intelligence gathering, information dissemination and enlightenment campaigns, counselling and rehabilitation of drug victims. I believe that the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has a special role to play in awareness and sensitization campaign. 

Interestingly, the NDLEA has created a suitable framework and different platforms that will enable collaborative effort and synergy with other organizations in the fight against the drug scourge ravaging our country. There is the School and Youth Outreach, Community and Grassroots Mobilization, Media and Public Enlightenment Campaigns, Stakeholders’ Collaboration and Rehab and Counselling center and has gone ahead to establish the Alternative Development Program which is like an amnesty program designed to empower the local growers of cannabis to stop and take up farming of legitimate crops.

It is in the light of this that I had to involve one of my NGOs: Uplifting the Youth through Agriculture (UYOTA) to support in the drug war. And I wish to thank Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Rtd) and the management of the NDLEA for the endorsement and opportunity to partner with our narcotic agency in the just war against substance abuse and trafficking in Nigeria. We have drawn our program and work plan. We will function more effectively in the areas of advocacy and enlightenment campaign and in the alternative development program to help empower those that have agreed to substitute the farming of legitimate crop for cannabis. I wish to also enjoin other organizations and concerned stakeholders to support the war against illicit drug. And together we will win and rid our country of the menace of illicit drugs. 

Princess (Amb) Afoma Ojei-Adigwe

afomaadigwe@gmail.com

Entrepreneur, farmer & grassroots mobilizer

Founder/President Uplifting Youths through Agriculture