South-West Region Leads with 24.4 per cent
Kaduna: The retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has said that over 14 million Nigerians are battling drug abuse issues.
Marwa stated this during his presentation at the two-day interactive Session on Government-citizens’ Engagement on Tuesday in Kaduna. According to the NDLEA boss, drugs are among the top three challenges bedevilling the country.
He disclosed, “From the South-West Region, we have 24.4 per cent drug abuse prevalence, South-South has 18 per cent, South-East 13.8, North-East 13.4, the North-West 12 per cent, and North-Central 10 per cent.
“These are UN figures, and they call for serious concern. Twelve per cent is high because in North-West, we have three million people, followed by Kano with one million.
Marawa stated that drug prevalence not only harms the Nigerian youths, societies, and families but also encourages criminal activities like kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism.
Commending the President Tinubu-led administration, he said it has boosted the capacity of the agency to effectively deliver on its mandate, adding that the President had done a lot in addressing drug abuse and trafficking in the country, disclosing that since his assumption of office in May 2023, he had shown great interest in the work of NDLEA.
“His unwavering support has enhanced our intelligence and boosted our capacity. We now have intelligent modern tools, operations vehicles, and sophisticated weapons to protect our men and women against drug cartels,” Marwa added.
According to him, the agency had its staff strength ramped up, adding, “We are now over 15,000. The agency’s good works were a direct result of the support provided by Tinubu.
” We are everywhere now: the airports, seaports, highways, and the sea. We even have a Marine Command now.”
