CSOs want drug tests for office seekers sustained 

Civil society organisations (CSOs) in the country have called on the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) to sustain the mainstreaming of drug tests in the leadership recruitment process in Nigeria.

The group, which acknowledged the NDLEA’s boss for changing the narrative on illicit drug trafficking and unmasking drug barons in the country, said the drug magnates are no longer invisible and above the law.

The group made this call in an appreciation letter jointly signed by its leaders, Ariyo-Dare Atoye of Adopt A Goal Initiative; Maryam Ahmed of Centre For Liberty; Solomon Apenja of Campaign-Finance Integrity Network and Jude Feranmi of Raising New Voices Initiative to mark the 2022 United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking.  

The letter reads in part: “From your days as an officer of the Nigerian Army and as military administrator of Borno and Lagos states, you have left no one in doubt about your leadership quality, competence, sagacity and ability to optimally deliver on whatever responsibility is thrust on you by society and God.

“Within the few months you have held sway as the Chairman/CEO of the NDLEA), you have rejuvenated the agency and repositioned it to deliver on its core mandate of ridding Nigeria of the menace of drugs abuse and impeding the use of Nigeria as a transit hub/route for illicit drugs.

“We join the generality of Nigerians to commend your efforts and congratulate you on the occasion of the 2022 United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse for the victories you have won in the fight against drug abuse. 

“We encourage you to do more and to continue your push toward mainstreaming the issue of drug abuse in the leadership recruitment process in Nigeria and governance. You are an asset of inestimable value to Nigeria, the international community and humanity.”