The Chairman of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Mohammad Buba Marwa has vowed to sustain the onslaught against the illicit activities of drug traffickers, insisted Nigeria will not surrender its future to the cartels.

Besides, the nacotic boss, represented destroyed over 12 tonnes of illicit substances confiscated from traffickers during various operations in Kano command.

Marwa who spoke during an event in Kano described the event as “justice made visible” and a clear demonstration of the government’s determination to combat drug trafficking and abuse across the country.

He said every quantity of drugs destroyed represented lives saved, families protected and communities shielded from the devastating consequences of substance abuse.

Marwa commended officers and men of the NDLEA Kano Strategic Command for their dedication, noting that Kano remains one of the agency’s most challenging operational environments due to its huge population, strategic location and entrenched drug networks.

Buba-Marwa, represented by Mr Suleiman Ahmed-Ningi, Director Operation and General Investigation (NDLEA) expressed concern over the growing diversion of controlled medicines such as tramadol, codeine and pentazocine from legitimate pharmaceutical channels into illegal markets, describing the trend as a major threat to public health and safety.

He maintained that the agency has directed the establishment of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and NDLEA Joint Oversight Committees across all commands nationwide to strengthen information sharing and monitor the movement of regulated substances from manufacturers to end users.

He urged stakeholders in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors to collaborate with the agency in safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s drug supply chain.

Marwa also stressed that enforcement alone could not win the fight against drugs, announcing that the agency had launched an Alternative Development Initiative aimed at providing legitimate economic opportunities for former illicit crop farmers.

On efforts to curb drug abuse among students, Marwa announced the introduction of Drug Integrity Testing in tertiary institutions across the country to detect and deter the circulation of illicit substances on campuses.

He called on vice chancellors, rectors and provosts of institutions in Kano State to adopt the initiative and appealed to the Kano State Government to provide the necessary political support and resources for its implementation.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf who was represented by Secretary to Kano state Government Alh. Umar Ibrahim Faruq expressed concern over the rising cases of illicit drug consumption, which often lead to violence in the state.

The Governor revealed that his administration has deployed 1,000 security personnel to 52 crime hotspots in the state, leading to arrests and seizures from several drug barons.

He added that government also introduced the Kano Safe Corridor Initiative, a non-kinetic approach through which many individuals have been counseled, rehabilitated, empowered, and reintegrated into their families.

Yusuf however reaffirmed support to operation of NDLEA through initial donation of three operational vehicles to ease their operations, assuring his commitment to extend similar support to other security agencies to enhance security in Kano.