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Amendment of NDLEA Act Would Position Anti-Narcotics Agency to Tackle Drug Scourge – Marwa
Amendment of NDLEA Act Would Position Anti-Narcotics Agency to Tackle Drug Scourge – Marwa
By: Michael Mike
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) has said that the agency would be positioned to tackle drug scourge when the ongoing amendment of the NDLEA Act is accomplished.
He said the enactment of the act and subsequently passage into law, will significantly enhance the organisation capability of the agency to curb the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country.
Marwa expressed the optimism while delivering remarks at the opening ceremony of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Drug Control meeting on Thursday in Abuja.
He said: “We have to acknowledge, however, the existence of the funding challenge, which is limiting our capabilities in various ways. Nonetheless, we are looking forward to some positive developments that will lend impetus to the attainment of our set objectives. One such is the amendment of the NDLEA Act, which will significantly enhance the organisational capability of our agency in drug supply reduction. The hearing of the amended bill is making progress in the National Assembly and we look forward to it scaling the final hurdles.”
Marwa expressed his optimism to the gathering of stakeholders from Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as other local and international partners,
while acknowledging the tremendous work of the IMC in the implementation of the
National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP) 2021-2025.
He said the collaboration from stakeholders towards achieving the stated goals of the NDCMP is also deserving of appreciation. He outlined some of the activities and achievements of NDLEA in 2023 in line with the national action plan on drug control.
Marwa said: “After taking stock of key programmes implemented across the strategic pillars in 2022 and 2023, I can say that we have recorded significant progress on the 4th National Plan (NDCMP 2021-2025) compared to previous ones. Under the Supply Reduction Pillar, our operations and offensive action led to the arrest of 13, 664 drug traffickers, of whom 3,412 have been convicted in 2023. We recorded the seizure of 1.61 million kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs, and we carried out the destruction of 206.5 hectares of cannabis farms.
“In Drug Demand Reduction, we recorded the counselling and rehabilitation of 10,904 individuals. The implementation of WADA advocacy across states, local government areas, wards, and communities boosted the attainment of some set targets under the Drug Demand Reduction Pillar. Ramping up our WADA sensitisation activities has enabled us to reach different target groups, and, by the same token, has facilitated the diffusion of shared ownership of the effort to curb the proliferation, trafficking and abuse of illicit substances in the country.
“Generally, there had been momentous developments in 2022-2023 that were helpful to the attainment of our targets. Among others, these include, one, Nigeria’s hosting of the 30th Conference of the Heads of Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, Africa, HONLEA, in September 2023; two, the commissioning of the NDLEA toll-free helpline, which has helped to bridge the gap between people who need treatment and the care provider, and three, the Drug Prevention, Treatment and Care (DPTC) training for the Governors’ Spouses, which has helped to strengthen response to drug problems across the states through the first ladies who are at the helm of the leadership of the State Drug Control Committee, SDCC. And, of course, the non-stop WADA campaign across the federation continually gives us leverage in society.”
In his remarks, Country Representative, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, Oliver Stolpe said “the achievement over the past years in enhancing law enforcement, increasing accessibility to treatment and rolling out prevention, and recently including harm reduction and Alternative Development, are all milestones that the NDLEA has created. The UNODC is grateful, and hopes that during the presentation by Nigeria at IMC International midterm review, Nigeria makes a great contribution to the world and inspires others in ways to take this fight against drug use and supply to the next level.”
Also speaking, representative of ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Daniel Akwasi Amankwaah noted that “ECOWAS is excited about the NDLEA drug control master plan because ECOWAS took inspiration from the NDLEA master plan to encourage other countries to develop their own master plan. I am glad to announce that of the 15 ECOWAS countries, 14 have developed their master plans. This is to say 99% of the countries have developed theirs and it is all thanks to the template of the NDLEA.”
In his welcome remark, Special Adviser to the Chairman/CEO on NDCMP, Otunba Lanre Ipinmisho said the meeting was called to assess the efforts made by the IMC members so far, identify challenges and proffering solutions.
A communique issued by the IMC at the end of the meeting listed some of the solutions, which they want governments at all levels and other stakeholders to focus on. This includes: “a declaration of a State of Emergency in the face the overwhelming statistics of drug trafficking and abuse and its devastating consequences on the public health, economy and security of the country, to underscore the need for greater resources to be committed to fighting drugs problem and its attendant consequences such as banditry, kidnaping, assassination, insurgency, terrorism and general insecurity.
“To strengthen drug treatment support services for persons with drug use disorder, ensuring the availability, accessibility and affordability of controlled medicines for palliative care and raising awareness on the health, socio-economic implications and other related risks of drug abuse and drug trafficking.
“To strengthen cohesion, greater collaboration and coordination, amongst stakeholders to prioritise resources for activities geared towards addressing drugs problem in line with the Strategic Pillars of the NDCMP.”
Amendment of NDLEA Act Would Position Anti-Narcotics Agency to Tackle Drug Scourge – Marwa
Yobe State EXCO Line Up Projects For Commissiong
By: Mamman Mohammed
The Yobe state executive council at its first meeting of the year today lined up some infrastructural projects completed and ready for commissioning.
Addressing the media after the EXCO Meeting, the state Commissioner for Information, Alh. Abdullahi Bego, said “these projects and programmes cut across many sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, education, road construction and Empowerment.
The council resolved to embark on a major modernization initiative to change the face of Damaturu to a befitting state capital in 2025.
The council expressed confidence that many of the ongoing legacy that will be ready for commissioning soon “include the Potiskum Modern Market, Ngalda and Yunusari markets all of which are currently at 90% stages of completion, and the Geidam Modern Market which is now at 75% completion stage, and the Potiskum Truck Transit Park now at 90 percent completion stage”.
The EXCO noted that the four modern SESAME SEEDS processing factories in Machina, Nguru, Potiskum and Damaturu have been completed and ready for inauguration.
Similarly, the phase one of the Fika-Maluri road has been completed while work on the second phase is ongoing. The Kukuri-Chukuriwa-Dawasa is 95% completed, Karasuwa-Galu- Gashu’a main road is completed.
“The Gashu’a-Masaba road is at 48% completion, Chumbusko-Tagali road is 100% completed, Nguru-Balanguwa is 75% completed, while Balanguwa-Kumaganam is at 60% completion stage.
“Danchuwa-Garin Bingel (100% completed); and the Danchuwa-Jajere road (97% completion stage); with a number of township roads under the first phase in Nguru, Jajimaji, Gashu’a, Potiskum, Damagum, Damaturu, Buni-Yadi, Babban Gida, and Geidam completed.
In the second phase, Nguru township roads were completed 100%; Potiskum and Damaturu are at 80% while Geidam and Gashu’a township roads are now at 40% stages of completion. We also have ongoing township road projects in Fika, Buni-Yadi and Yunusari towns.
The Damaturu-Buni Yadi, Damaturu-Bayamari, Potiskum-Gashu’a, Bayamari-Yunusari, and Geidam-Bukarti roads cut off by the floods last year have been repaired.
“There is also ongoing rehabilitation of Yunusari-Yusufari road; Jajimaji-Karasuwa road; Yunusari-Kafiya-Kanamma road junction.
“The state government is also currently constructing a road from Potiskum to Ngojin and from Fadawa to Daya in Fika Local Government area” the council stated.
The state executive council noted the delivery of healthcare equipment to the state donated by World Medical Relief in the United States.
“These equipment include hospital beds, infusion pumps, patient monitors, surgical instruments and tools, defibrillators, fetal monitors and ventilators, amongst others”.
The EXCO. noted with satisfaction the graduation of the Buni Scholars in India in the face of the economic challenges making the state proud with increase in qualified personnel in various fields.
Yobe State EXCO Line Up Projects For Commissiong
WEF 2025: Nigeria, Global Leaders Target $29trn African Economy By 2050
** As VP Shettima reaffirms Nigeria’s resolve to champion AfCFTA
By: Our Reporter
Vice President Kashim Shettima has joined other world leaders to push for the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) with a target to boost Africa’s economy to $29 trillion by 2050.
He restated Nigeria’s readiness to spearhead the AfCFTA and take advantage of the market potential of the sector for digital transformation and economic integration of the African continent.
This is just as the President of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Børge Brende, pointed out the transformative potential of the AfCFTA, projecting that its full implementation could boost Africa’s economy to $29 trillion by 2050.
Senator Shettima and the global leaders declared their nations’ positions on Wednesday during a forum of Friends of AfCFTA on the sidelines of the ongoing 2025 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
The Vice President, while addressing the forum tagged, “Forum Friends of AfCFTA: Turning Digital Trade into a Catalyst for Growth in Africa,” reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to AfCFTA as a vehicle for shared prosperity.
According to VP Shettima, Africa stands in a unique position to take advantage of global talent deficits, citing a Korn Ferry study that projects a global human talent shortage of more than 85 million people by 2030.
“By 2050, Nigeria’s population will surpass that of the United States, becoming the third most populous nation on earth at 440 million people,” he stated.
Citing Africa’s growing digital landscape, the VP said Nigeria’s technological strength is propelling it into the knowledge age.
“Today, we have 220 million telecom subscribers and 163 million internet users in Nigeria alone. This provides us with immense opportunities to empower our people. While our highest oil export earnings were $35 billion in 2011, India last year earned about $120 billion from outsourcing alone.
“The African Continental Free Trade Area is not only an economic arrangement but a bold statement of our shared destiny,” VP Shettima stated, adding that while Africa may have missed the agricultural and industrial ages, it is positioned to thrive in the post-industrial knowledge age.
On his part, the WEF President, Brende, while welcoming Vice President Shettima and other African leaders to the “Forum Friends of AfCFTA,” said Africa’s demographic advantage presents huge economic opportunities for the continent.
He noted that while most nations face workforce challenges, Africa’s young population positions it for unprecedented growth.
“If the Secretary General of the AfCFTA is given all the support he deserves, we can boost intra-African trade by a staggering 50%.
“As of today, $29 trillion represents one-third of the global GDP. Africa is such a growing continent, and one of its key promises is demography. The challenge now is creating new jobs for the youth population,” he stated.
Others who spoke at the event included the Presidents of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa; Botswana, Duma Boko; DR Congo, Felix Tshisekedi; Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud; Prime Minister of Egypt, Mostafa Madbouly; Confederation of African Football President, Patrice Motsepe; Former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair; amongst numerous global CEOs.
WEF 2025: Nigeria, Global Leaders Target $29trn African Economy By 2050
MAN OF THE YEAR Award By THISDAY Newspapers/ARISE Media Group
CELEBRATING PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU
The President/Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Tinubu, has been announced “MAN OF THE YEAR” by THISDAY Newspapers and ARISE News Board of Editors.
The prestigious recognition reaffirmed Mr. President’s exemplary leadership, visionary thinking, and unwavering commitment to transforming the country amid mounting economic and security challenges.
The awards organisers also noted that the President has marched on with courage and determination to change Nigeria for the better, and proven to be a leader who is driven more by convictions and taken decisions which are in the best interest of the nation.
To commemorate this milestone, THISDAY is unveiling a Special Edition on Monday, January 27, 2025, to afford the President’s
aides, friends, well-wishers, and associates the opportunity to share in the joy and pride that the award brings to Mr. President through placement of Congratulatory/Goodwill messages to honour the awardee among other award recipients.
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MAN OF THE YEAR Award By THISDAY Newspapers/ARISE Media Group
“GOODBYES ARE NOT THE END, BUT THE BEGINNING OF NEW JOURNEYS,” SAYS MAJOR GENERAL MAINA………as He Hands Over to Major General UM Alkali, the 7th Commandant of AWCN
Yobe State EXCO Line Up Projects For Commissiong
WEF 2025: Nigeria, Global Leaders Target $29trn African Economy By 2050
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