Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke; House of Representatives Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, and key stakeholders in anti-drug war have called for crackdown on drug barons.
They spoke in Abuja at the 2013International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking held by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, according to a statement by the NDLEA’s Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, onWednesday.
Specifically, Adoke said the Federal Government would provide the NDLEA with the needed support to operate optimally.
He said, “The huge resources derived from illicit drug trade cannot be ignored because criminals can undermine governments and economies with such proceeds.
“Illicit drug activities of cartels must therefore be stopped in the interest of public peace and security. Government will therefore ensure that the agency has what it needs to operate optimally.”
The minister, represented by his Special Assistant, Chibueze Okorie, expressed concern about report that some children had started abusing drug as early as age 10.
Similarly, Tambuwal, who was the special guest at the event, condemned the consequences of drug trafficking.
“Some of the consequences of illicit drug ventures are the destabilisation and destruction of national economies, frustration of monetary and fiscal control, and inflation due to laundering of proceeds from illegitimate sources,” he said.
Chairman and Chief Executive, NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, in his address, said Nigeria was winning the fight against illicit drugs against all odds.
He said, “Nigeria has incapacitated numerous drug trafficking syndicates with the seizure of 3,434,966.23 kilogrammes of narcotics and conviction of 21,871 drug traffickers since the agency commenced operations 23 years ago.”
Also, Chairman, House Committee on Narcotic Drugs and Financial Crime, Adams Jagaba, called for adequate funding for the NDLEA to effectivelydischarge its functions.
Chief Medical Director, Federal Neuro-pschiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, who spoke on ‘The Emergence of Amphetamine Production in Nigeria: A Threat toNational Security and Economy,’ listed the consequences of drugs to includemental illness.
Culled: Punchng
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