He noted that the current unacceptable level of drug abuse
in the country must stop, promising that it is the task of the agency to stop
the menace.
The newly-appointed NDLEA boss, in his inaugural address in
Abuja, said: “I would like to warn those who engage in the dastardly trade of
importation, export, cultivation, processing, manufacturing, trafficking, sale
and consumption of illicit substances to stop forthwith or be prepared to
contend with the NDLEA.”
According to him, as the lead agency in the drug war in
Nigeria, “You are all too familiar with the extent of devastation that drug use
has caused our nation. Drug use has eaten very deep into our social fabric as
every community in Nigeria is affected.
“It needs repeating that the number of drug users in Nigeria
now of all ages must be well over 15 million. If we extrapolate the figures of
the recent UNODC survey of 2018 where 14.3 million Nigerians between the ages
of 15-64 were found to be drug users, at that time nearly three times the
global prevalence.”
Marwa, who officially resumed duty at the agency’s
headquarters said the NDLEA will be overhaul and expanded in line with the
Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse (PACEDA)
recommendations, existing financial constraints and the authorisation of the
appropriate superior authorities.
“We will put equal efforts in drug demand reduction as
contained in the NDLEA Act. We will develop a strategy of work to meet our
objectives, following the National Drug Control Masterplan 2021-2025 to be
released soon, as our roadmap.
“Discipline must remain our priority and topmost. It is the
bedrock of an organisation such as ours. With my military background, you know
what to expect,” he added.
He reassured NDLEA personnel that their welfare, including
cases of stagnation in rank, training and postings will be given utmost
attention.
“Also, operational and logistical inadequacies in the
service will be looked into. The NDLEA will safeguard the nation and our youths
from the drug menace. That is a task that must be done,” Marwa said.