Tinubu promises greater support for the war on drugs and supports NDLEA initiatives

President Bola Tinubu has strengthened his commitment to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in his battle against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

This assurance was made during the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, celebrated at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, President Tinubu highlighted the importance of prevention with the theme “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention”.

He called on all citizens to support the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, launched by the NDLEA three years ago.

“I commend and urge everyone to redouble their efforts to combat drug abuse and trafficking in the country,”

Tinubu said, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to protecting the youth as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Highlighting the global impact of drug abuse, President Tinubu noted that prevention is the most effective strategy.

“Prevention not only saves lives; Furthermore, resources are saved that would otherwise be spent on treatment and rehabilitation,” she said.

He stressed the importance of investing in evidence-based prevention programs to break the cycle of drug abuse and safeguard the future of young Nigerians.

NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd.) introduced the “Save Our Families” social advocacy campaign, which targets early detection and intervention through the use of special drug testing kits. These kits are designed for use in homes, schools and workplaces to detect 15 different substances.

Marwa stressed that the Drug Integrity Test initiative, aimed at secondary school students, public and private sector employees and candidates for political office, is a preventative measure to promote an anti-drug culture.

Marwa reported significant action through WADA’s social advocacy initiative, which has conducted thousands of educational programs targeting both in-school and out-of-school youth. The initiative has been instrumental in spreading anti-substance abuse messages across various media platforms.

Outgoing UNODC Country Representative Dr. Oliver Stolpe recommended expanding successful prevention programs to all public and private secondary schools and strengthening resilience against drug use through initiatives such as sports-based programs.

He also stressed the need for up-to-date data on drug use at the national level to measure the effectiveness of ongoing efforts.

Education Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman has supported the NDLEA’s drug testing campaign, underlining the importance of mandatory and sustained testing in schools.

He pledged to work with the NDLEA to integrate these measures into the education system.

The event saw calls from various stakeholders, including members of the National Assembly, for increased budgetary support for the NDLEA.

Speakers include Senator Sadiq Umar, Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, MTN Foundation Chairman, Prince Julius Adelusi Adeluyi, and guest speaker, Dr. Vincent Udenze.

The consensus was clear: a united and well-supported effort is essential to combat the drug menace in Nigeria.

The post Tinubu vows greater support for war on drugs, supports NDLEA initiatives appeared first on TheConclaveNg.