The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) disclosed that over N100 billion worth of illicit drugs have been seized in Nigeria.
He stated that over 2,776,000 kilograms of drugs had been seized, while 8, 634 people have so far been arrested in connection with the seized drugs.
Marwa revealed this when he led top officials of the Agency on a courtesy visit to Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje on his ongoing War Against Drug Abuse, WADA
He also disclosed that 1,630 convictions had been made; 3,232 cases in court and over 4,000 drug users counselled and rehabilitated between January and now.
“We are already making substantial progress in our drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts. We are however convinced that the ongoing attempts by some of our elected officials to legalise cannabis which is being abused by over 10.6 million Nigerians will be a draw back for the achievements so far.
“This is why I want to implore Your Excellency and Kano state not to support the attempt to legalise cannabis”, Gen. Marwa stated.
Marwa warned landlords to ensure that they did not accommodate drug traffickers in their houses because NDLEA would not hesitate to seek forfeiture of any property used to store illicit drugs when the offenders are caught.
He commended the governor for making drug test a prerequisite for public officials and those aspiring into public office in the state.
He urged the governor to support NDLEA with 25 hectatres of land to build barracks in the state and a property that would house a zonal command office of the Agency in Kano.
While granting the requests for land and accommodation for a zonal command, the governor, Ganduje assured his guest that beside the stand of Kano State Government against drug abuse and trafficking, the predominant religion in the state, Islam is against the twin evils of drug abuse and trafficking.
){kind=link}