NewsOver 6,000 Drug Offenders Jailed, 12,000 Others Rehabilitated Since 2021 - Marwa

Over 6,000 Drug Offenders Jailed, 12,000 Others Rehabilitated Since 2021 – Marwa

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November 03, (THEWILL) – Over 19,000 drug offenders have been arrested, with more than 6,000 jailed and over 12,000 others rehabilitated since 2021, the National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), said on Thursday.

It added that a total of 5,452 million kilogrammes of drugs valued at N420 billion, had been confiscated and 740 hectares of cannabis farms destroyed.

Chairman of the agency, Buba Marwa, made the disclosure on Thursday, during the 2023 budget defence session at the House of Representatives in Abuja.

He said the agency had made a huge difference in curtailing drug abuse and trafficking in Nigeria.

Marwa expressed concern that Nigeria still has a drug prevalence of 14.4 percent, which is nearly three times the global average.

“We have about 15 million Nigerians who are using drugs, which is equal to the population of Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Gambia and Liberia all combined.

“We in the NDLEA wish to assure this esteemed committee that we are resolute and will remain upstanding in rising to the challenge of our mandate.

“It is to eliminate the cultivation, processing, manufacturing, sale, trafficking and use of illicit drugs and psychotropic substances”, he said.

Marwa also charged communities in the South East to expose producers of “Mkpuru Mmiri”, a highly addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system.

Mkpuru Mmiri is a major narcotic substance largely abused by youths in eastern Nigeria.

The NDLEA boss recalled that when the issue of “Mkpuru Mmiri” came up in 2021, he assured that the NDLEA would go after the producers and marketers.

“If you recall, we recently dismantled two laboratories, we are all out in areas where terrible substances are manufactured and we will continue to dismantle more.

“So far, the agency has dismantled 20 over the years; we want to ask communities also to stand up and be a part of this effort.

“Where such things are going on in their surroundings, they should report any suspected manufacturing laboratories that does not only produce “Mkpuru Mmiri”, but any of the other substances”, he said.

Marwa said that the House Committee on Narcotics had demonstrated commitment to combat drug abuse in the country.

He said this was evident in its efforts to amend the NDLEA Act, enhance the agency’s budget, its support for compulsory drug testing and making NDLEA beneficiary of the Police Trust Fund.

Marwa said there was need to properly fund the agency and insulate its staff from the influence of drug barons.

On the 2022 budget, Marwa said that N38.9 billion was appropriated to the agency for its operations, out of which N10.49 billion was for personnel cost, N998.9 million for overhead and N27.44 billion as capital expenditure.

For the 2023 proposals, Marwa said of the N40.12 billion earmarked, N21.44 billion was for capital, N16.5 billion for personnel cost and N2.64 billion for overhead.

He said major projects in the 2023 budget include building of barracks, of which N13 billion was allocated, purchase of armoured vehicles for N2 billion and modern arms and ammunition.

The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Narcotics, Rep. Francis Agbo (PDP-Benue), said that the committee was satisfied with the work of the agency.

He urged the Federal Government to employ more personnel for the NDLEA, and improve its funding and equipment.

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