NDLEA Cries Out Over The Rise In The Consumption Of Illicit Drugs In Nigeria

NDLEA Has Not Granted License For the Cultivation And Production of Medicinal Cannabis

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has raised alarm over the 14.4 per cent of the country’s population that used illicit drugs, saying such figures has posed threat to the safety and security of the nation.

Chairman and Chief Executive of NDLEA Col. Muhammad Abdallah (rtd) who was represented by Director of Narcotics, Femi Olaruntoba, disclosed this in Lokoja during the occasion of public destruction of 18,083. 787 kilogrammes of drug exhibits by the Kogi state command of the agency.

He stated that the report released recently by the United Nations Office on drugs and crime indicated that the percentage was between the age group of 15 and 65 years of the nation population.

The Chairman said: “The Nigeria Drug use survey recently released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC came up with findings that are striking and alarming on the pervasive drug use problem in the country”

While calling for concerted efforts to mitigate the negative consequences of drugs on the health, socioeconomic and security of the nation, the NDLEA Chairman revealed that the agency was already strengthening its drug demand reduction strategies to improve its visibility in clear identified places such as market place, motor parks, schools, places frequently used among others.

He, however, charged all the stakeholders in the drug control chain to foster a more responsive synergy and maintain a stronger foothold in the onslaught against the nefarious drug merchants who are becoming increasingly violent.

“About a month ago , an attack was launched against our staff in Ondo state leading to loss of four lives of the officers. This came barely one year after a similar incident occurred in Okene , Kogi state where the agency lost three of its staff to some unknown gunmen” he said.

Speaking on the cultivation of Cannabis for medicinal and wellness purposes in the country, the Chairman of the agency, stated that the law prohibiting cannabis or dealing has not been repealed, stressing that the cultivation and dealing in cannabis still remain an offence.

He refuted claims that the agency had granted license or approval to any person or corporate organization for the cultivation and production of medicinal cannabis oil and powder.