Enugu state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has assured the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency , Akanu Ibiam International Airport Special Area Command, Enugu of his administration’s support on the agency’s fight against drug abuse and trafficking .
He gave the assurance on Tuesday, when the Commander of the Special Area Command, Rosana Nnodim paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Enugu.
Represented by the Deputy governor, Hon.(Mrs) Cecilia Ezeilo, governor Ugwuanyi commended the NDLEA for establishing two major formations in Enugu state, (the state command and the special area command,) a development he said, “that clearly underscores the importance that the agency attached to the state, not only as the capital of Eastern Nigeria, but also as a major economic and commercial hub
” This dual and effective presence , will go a long way in ensuring that the state derives maximum attention and benefits from the agency that would manifest in the achievement of total freedom from the menace of the production, trafickking, and abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances” he said.
Governor Ugwuanyi observed that ” illegal drug production, trafficking , consumption and abuse have been discovered to be at the root of many problems of society today, including but not limited to gender-based violence ,insurgency, armed robbery, , banditry, human rights abuses, security operatives-on- civilians violence, poor economic productivity, national economic mismanagement and even corruptiom.
“So the NDLEA must quickly and urgently rise up to the challenge of achieving substantial drug supply control and demand reduction through effective suppression of illicit manufacturing and trafficking
” Very importantly, drug demand reduction measures by the agency and it’s collaborators must of neccessity facilitate a collective capacity to stimultaneously address supply and demand
“The agency must also provide it’s operatives with be the requisite training technology and expertise, in order to build their capacity to respond effectively to new emerging threats in the drug problem, thus, continuously adapting it’s overall drug control strategies to the changing trends of drug abuse”,he said
The governor assured the Commander of the state government”s wlingness to collaborate with the formations of the agency in the state inorder to achieve a drug free society
“We would be very much disposed to offer you all assistance necessary for success in your assignment in the state.,” she said.
The deputy governor urged the NDLEA to step up it’s patnership with organisations and institutions that incubate adolescents and young people such as schools and faith and community-based organisations in order to create the impacts at these stages.
Earlier, the Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Akanu Ibiam International Airport Special Area Command, Enugu , Rosana Nnodim, informed the governor that she was posted newly to the state.
She said that she came to familiarize with the state government and to solicit for an assistance.
The commander who highlighted the achievements of the agency in Enugu state,
decried high rate of drug abuse and traficking in the country, saying that harmful drugs induce violence and should be stamped out of the society.
Nnodim said that ” over 90% of illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria was from the south east, raised alarm on the influx of harmful drugs in Enugu state. She said that Akanu Ibiam International Airport has not resumed operation,yet the rate at which illicit drugs were brought into the state is alarming.
“Problem of drug abuse and illicit practising is a global problem. Nigeria is one of the ravaged country. 90% of illicit drug is from the south east , People of the South East put all their energies in whatever they do. The positive ones do it well , the negative ones do whatever they wish’, she said.
The commander added that the NDLEA has offices across the 36 states of the federation and Abuja liason office, ,a special.area command, and five Airport commands.
She enumerated dangers of drug abuse to include various kinds of violence,rape,armed robbery, banditry, addiction, killing etc.
“We all know the security challenges in the country There are influx of illicit drugs in Enugu. We have been making arrests. Drugs and crimes go hand in hand. Take away drugs and 80% of the crime is reduced Drug induces violence Most of these drugs are manufactured in Nigeria. This is an ill wind that knows no bounds .Get drug out of circulation ,” she appealed.
Hon.Engr .Ezeilo Ejike
SA Media To Deputy Governor.
