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The Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Buba Marwa says nigeria is the highest user of cannabis globally.
Marwa disclosed this on Saturday in a message to the launch of war against drug abuse held in commemoration of the United Nations international day against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking at the Enugu command of the ndlea.
June 26 every year is set aside by nations of the world to strengthen efforts aimed at sensitizing the general populace, especially youths on the dangers associated with the cultivation, manufacture, trafficking and abuse of illicit drugs.
Represented by the NDLEA commander in Enugu, Anietie Bassey Idim, Buba Marwa lamented the pervasive abuse of cannabis substance in the country, revealing that about 10.6 million Nigerians are actively abusing the substance.
He disclosed that the NDLEA has so far under his administration seized n90 million worth of drugs as the agency has called for partnership particularly with the establishment of a special purpose committee, to win the war against drug abuse.
In a message to the occasion, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state who was represented by the Special Assistant on Drugs and Narcotics, Chidiebere Egbuogu, stressed the need for critical stakeholders to join hands in the global fight against the menace of drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
Governor Ugwuanyi assured of his administration’s continued support for the NDLEA in achieving its core mandate to ensure peace and security in the state.
Delivering a lecture at the event, the head of training, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Enugu, Dr Nneka Unogu called for decriminalization of drug abuse and advocated rehabilitation.
According to Dr. Unogu, to win the fight against the menace of drug abuse and illicit trafficking there should be increased investment in research, as well as improved government response in curtailing drug abuse and trafficking.
Earlier, chairman of the occasion, Dr Casmir Odo called for a multi-sectoral approach to the fight against the menace.
Dr Odo who is the director of pharmaceutical services in the state ministry of health, said, drug abuse promotes insecurity, as well as reduce the general well being of the abuser and called for the creation of more treatment centers for drug addicts, seeking rehabilitation.
There were goodwill messages from critical stakeholders including the Federal Road Safety Corp, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, and other related matters, The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nigeria Security And Civil Defense Corps, Nigerian Police Force, the Federal Fire Service , the Nigerian Army as well as Nigerian Airforce and Enugu state Ministry of Education.
The theme of this year’s international day against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking is “share facts on drugs, save lives.
