President Bola Tinubu said his administration is committed to the country’s fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking as part of efforts to curtail the global drug problem, even as he assured he will continue to provide necessary support and tools for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), to fulfil its mandate.
Tinubu spoke while declaring open the 31st meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, Africa (HONLAF), in Abuja on Tuesday.
The president, who represented by the vice president, Kashim Shettima said: “This administration will continue to provide the necessary support, motivation and tools for the NDLEA to fulfill its mandate. We understand the connection between the success of the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking and the attainment of a number of goals on our socio-economic and security agenda.”
He further said, “For us, the commitment to the fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse is not just a matter of policy; it is a moral imperative. We recognize that a population at war with drugs is not a dividend but a liability. We believe that the future of our youth, the strength of our institutions, and the well-being of our communities depend on our ability to eradicate this threat. So, I must appeal to you to see this gathering as an avenue for the exchange of novel ideas and the development of practical strategies. We must consolidate established contacts, operational partnerships, and cooperation to ensure that the outcomes of this four-day deliberation advance public safety and the emergence of drug-free African communities.”
He said the choice of Nigeria for the conference is a profound recognition of the campaign and fight against illicit drugs led by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
“We are hosting the 31st HONLAF meeting here to reassure you of our promise to participate in building a world not threatened by the infiltration of illicit drugs. Over the decades, criminal organizations have attempted to breach our security measures in their business of polluting nations and minds. But while it’s a compliment that drug-law enforcement organizations are a threat to their criminal empires, their desperation must never be taken for granted. Without you as gatekeepers of healthy nations, humanity as we know it would have long been perverted. So, on behalf of the world, I say: thank you, thank you to all of you who have kept us from being polluted and destroyed”, he added.
In his remarks at the ceremony, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi represented by the director, International Criminal Justice Cooperation, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Nkiruka Jones-Nebo said “It is imperative that this conference remains proactive in addressing the legal complexities that may impede seamless cooperation in intelligence sharing, joint operations, and training.”
Also speaking at the event, country representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Oliver Stolpe said the drug problem has changed from what it used to be 20 years ago.
“Today, the picture is different, local consumption is increasing, and increasingly problematic. We need a balanced approach to supply and demand reduction. We need to invest in prevention and in treatment. And, we need alternatives to imprisonment for drug users that are more effective and help decongesting prisons. At the same time, we need to strengthen cooperation between countries along drug trafficking routes with the aim of dismantling the ever more sophisticated trafficking networks”, he stated.
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