Guardian Nigeria
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd), has urged Nigerians to support the agency in its war against drug abuse and trafficking, saying drugs has become a propellant to terrorists, kidnappers, and bandits in the country.
Marwa made the call on Saturday while speaking as the chairman of the Annual Champion Newspapers’ Awards at the Convention Centre of Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
No fewer than 43 eminent Nigerians from different walks of life, institutions and distinguished guests converged for the awards, where some reputable citizens and institutions were honoured for their contributions to the socio-political and economic developments of the country.
Marwa presided over the event while the presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 General Elections, Mr Peter Obi, was honoured with the Most Impactful Politician of the Fourth Republic.
The Governor of the Year on Infrastructure and Rural Development was received by the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim; the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, represented by the state Commissioner for Transport, Orman Ehin, got Face of Democracy Award, among others.
Speaking at the occasion, Marwa called on parents and Nigerians to support the agency in its war against abuse of drugs, noting the right examples must be set for children.
“Every one of you here knows we are in a dire strait as far as drug use is concerned; there is a drug scourge. We know for a fact that drugs have continued to destroy our youths, our families, our communities and on top of that, it is a propellant to terrorists, kidnappers, bandits all over the place. I would like to urge us all to support the war against drugs.
“80-90 per cent of us here are parents, and as parents, we have responsibilities for our children, to bring our children up properly and to lay the correct examples. Any parent, who loves drugs and send the children to buy, already is laying his carpet for the child to follow in his footsteps, where the child tries what Papa or Mama is sending him to buy.
“We must begin by setting the right examples and we must pay much attention to our children like the old times. These days, parents are even afraid to go to bed in the night until children have returned home and slept off because they are afraid if they sleep before the children and the children come back they may slaughter them, this has happened.”
