He made the statement at an anti-drug conference and book launch organised by the NDLEA Celebrity Drug-Free Club as part of activities marking the 2023 United Nations Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drugs Trafficking tagged ‘People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention’, in Abuja.
He said “The theme for this year’s celebration ‘People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention’, no doubt has reaffirmed the importance of protecting humanity from the consequences of illicit drugs and substances abuse.
In order to sustain the reinvigorated campaign against substance abuse, the agency has been employing an all society approach in its drug control strategy.
Represented by the Director, Media and Advocacy of the agency, Femi Babafemi, the Chairman explained that the NDLEA Celebrity Drug-Free Club is a platform set up by celebrities to advance the campaign against substance abuse in Nigeria within the entertainment industry where they operate and to the larger society. “We believe this will positively influence their followers especially on social media to stay away from substance abuse.”
In his paper presentation on ‘Advancing the Reinvigorated Campaign on Drug War in Nigeria,’ global trainer and drug demand expert, Dr. Nkerenwem Ebiti noted that “currently, Africa ranks third in terms of substance abuse but it has been projected that by 2030, just seven years from now, Africa will surpass every other nation in terms of substance use.”
He said that with Nigeria ‘having about half the population in West Africa, “Indicators show that in West Africa, there are 5.7 million people involved in drug trafficking but by 2050 we will have about 13 million persons involved in drug trafficking” hence “we can imagine the effect this will have on Nigeria.”
He listed challenge faced by law enforcement efforts to include the clandestine nature of drug trafficking. “Let’s take for example cannabis, it is said that 85 percent of Cannabis farms are cited my more than three kilometers from any grove which means that cited deep into the forests, a lot more difficult for NDLEA for example, to have access to.. 39 percent of these farms have been created through deforestation, burning of bushes and so on.
Ebiti recommended intensifying effort at supply reduction by disrupting production as well as control such illicit substance as a strategy to deal with the menace. He also recommended a transparent complaint mechanism where informants are well protected.
The book titled ‘The last Syndicate,’ was written by Michelle Ofoyeju, an NDLEA officer, was launched by the Emir of Keffi, Dr. Shehu Yemusa.
Book reviewer and Editor-in-Chief, Daily Trust newspaper, Naziru Mikail, said the book is and exposé on the inner workings of drug traffickers, their barons and modus operandi.
