The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says no fewer than 32,402 drug users have been counselled and treated from January 2021 to March 2024 across the country.
The NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, said this when he received the Executive Director, Vanguard Against Drug Abuse (VGADA) Detox Centre, Dr Hope Omeiza, and his team on Friday in Abuja.
The News Agency Of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the VGADA Detox Centre, a rehabilitation centre in Abuja, is a leading provider of addiction treatment and recovery services in Nigeria.
The centre is holding a National Youth Conference on June 28 in commemoration of the World Drug Day celebrated globally every June 26, in Abuja.
Marwa, who was represented by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, said that the agency had also secured 9,034 convictions with over 12,000 other cases going on in Court.
Marwa said: “There is no denying the fact that indeed, there is a misconception about the role of the agency, especially as it concerns drug demand reduction.
“I like to put it on record that indeed the agency has two key roles, that is, drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction.
“And when you look at what we have done in the area of demand reduction, I can even almost say it far outweighs or surpasses what we have done in drug supply reduction.
“But because the supply reduction has to do with arrest, seizures, prosecution of offenders and their convictions, sending them to jail, confiscation of their assets and other funds in their bank account through court order. So, quite a lot of people believe that’s all we do.
“But indeed, beyond that, let me put it this way, maybe to be very clear this way, if you look at the last three years, the agency has counselled and treated over 32,000 in our facilities nationwide.”
He said that out of the 32,000, the agency secured 9,034 convictions with over 12,000 other cases going on in Court.
Marwa said that one of the things the agency did in drug demand reduction was to raise awareness about the problem of substance abuse in the country.
He added that the frequent awareness led to the creation of a social advocacy platform precisely on June 26, 2021 at the presidential villa.
“The platform is called War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), social advocacy platform to raise awareness nationwide about substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.”
According to him, it is also to mobilise everybody, including stakeholders, all citizens, irrespective of their age and status, to buy in and take ownership of the fight against substance abuse.
“The agency is also working with other organisations, NGOs like VGADA detox centre and a lot of other stakeholders, to engage with the people, to engage with everybody in the society.
“This is starting from the family level, to the schools, students, communities, faith-based organisations like churches and mosques.
“Also, those in the motor parks, those in traditional institutions and the palaces among others are not left out,” he said.
Earlier, Omeiza said that VGADA Detox Centre had team of like minds dedicated to offer selfless services for the peace, unity and progress of the country in the present generation and future ones.
He said that the centre remained committed to inculcating in youths, the need to be aware of harmful practices within their environment and the general society.
This, he said included informing the youth to stay away from drugs and substance abuse so as to keep themselves and the society safe. (NAN)
By Ibironke Ariyo
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