By IBIRONKE ARIYO

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it arrested over 16,304 drug suspects and seized 4.5 million kilograms of illicit substances between January and October.

The NDLEA Chairman, retired, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa disclosed this at the 7th Security and Emergency Management Awards and Lecture (SAEMA) on Wednesday in Abuja.

Marwa said that, as an agency mandated to curb illicit drug problems, the NDLEA under his leadership had responded to the challenge by pursuing a two-pronged strategy.

According to him, the first aspect of the strategy is Supply Reduction, which entails closing down the supply pipelines of illicit drugs.

?We do this through intelligence-led operations, interdictions, and international collaborations.

?By these means, we have intercepted tons of narcotics, dismantled cartels, and prosecuted offenders.

?From our borders to our airports and seaports, our officers remain resolute and execute their job without fear or favour. ?Gratifyingly, we are getting good results.

?In the first 10 months of this year alone, we have recorded over 16,304 arrests and have successfully prosecuted and secured the conviction of about 3,000 drug offenders with hundreds of cases ongoing in court.

?In the same vein, we have seized 4.5 million kilograms of illicit substances.

?We go the extra mile deep into the forests to locate cannabis plantations and destroy them.

?In these operations, we have destroyed 612.2864 hectares of cannabis farms within the same 10-month period,?he said.

Speaking further, Marwa said that the second aspect of the agency?s strategy was the Demand Reduction, which entailed ensuring a near-zero demand for illicit drugs by users.

The NDLEA boss said that the agency?s demand reduction activities were built around the recognition that enforcement alone was insufficient to effectively curb the instances of drug abuse.

He said that people must be made aware of the dangers of using these illicit substances, and persuaded not to experiment with them no matter the circumstance.

He added that those who were already users needed to be cured of their dependence and weaned off the substances.

?To this end, we launched a social advocacy campaign, the War Against Drug Abuse, which we often refer to as WADA.

?This comprehensive, grassroots-driven initiative is designed to awaken every citizen, family, and institution to their role in the collective effort to stamp out the ills of illicit drugs in our society,?he said.

Marwa said that through WADA, the agency had entered schools, markets, places of worship, traditional institutions and communities to spread the message that drug abuse was not a private vice but a national menace.

He said ?in 2025 alone, we have criss-crossed this country and reached nooks and crannies with our public awareness campaign.

?We have conducted over 3,765 WADA activities comprising public lectures, sensitisation visits and other engagements.

?Till today, officers of our 36 state commands, 14 zonal commands and 10 strategic commands engage in weekly WADA activities,?

The NDLEA boss name? the other part of the demand reduction strategy as treatment, rehabilitation, and reintegration of drug users.

He added that they were very important activities that must balance the agency?s offensive effort.

According to him, to simplify its importance, I usually reference the law of demand and supply. Where there is no demand, there will not be supply.

?If we wake up tomorrow and no one is demanding cocaine or cannabis, the market will dry up and the suppliers will be out of business.

?But that cannot happen unless you treat those who have become dependent on the substances and need their fix regularly,? he added.

According to Marwa, the agency runs 30 rehabilitation centres across the country, offering medical treatment, counselling, and reintegration support for those struggling with addiction.

He said that NDLEA was expanding these facilities and partnering with state governments, NGOs, and international allies to ensure that recovery was possible and accessible

He thanked the event organisers for choosing NDLEA to host the year 2025 ceremony.

They included the Image Merchants Promotion Limited,(IMPR), the Centre for Crisis Communication,(CCC) the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, (CISLAC) and the International Emergency Management Society(TIMES).

He also commended them for the honour they continued to bestow on institutions and individuals working tirelessly to safeguard Nigeria. (NAN)

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