The Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, has sought for stronger collaboration with the Nigerian Army to fight drug abuse and trafficking in the country.
Marwa made the call when he paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, at Army Headquarters on Thursday in Abuja.
He said the business of fighting drug cartels required collaboration with the military which had superior fire power, adding that drug cartels are always equipped because of their financial muscle.
While appreciating the support given by Nigerian army so far, Marwa said the drug scourge in the country had become worrisome and widespread.
He said that no single community in the country could be said to be free from issue of drug abuse, adding that drug abuse did not discriminate against any religion, gender or tribe.
According to him, there are 15 million Nigerians that abuse drugs which is three times the global average.
“10.6 million use cannabis, they even drink it and of course this has destroyed homes, families and the society.
“More relevant to the army obviously is the effect and the linkage with criminalities because all the Boko Haram insurgents and bandits all use drugs.
“As the lead agency on drug abuse and trafficking control in Nigeria, we in the NDLEA wish to give assurances that to the best of our ability will remain upstanding.
“We know that when we make seizure, even if it is one kilogram off the streets, it is one kilogram less effective influence on the criminals.
“So far, we have within this year seized 3.3 million kilograms and we have also convicted more than 1, 000 of these criminals.
“In fact, between September and now, 475 have been sent to jail and money worth N120 billion of drugs has been seized which is the third element.
“They sell the drugs to fund the terrorists activities. With this, we want to work even more with the Nigerian army in the activities of controlling and eliminating drugs in Nigeria,” he said.
Responding, the COAS said the Nigerian Army had always supported and collaborated with the agency in its effort to curb the menace of drug abuse and trafficking in the society.
Yahaya acknowledged that there was direct linkage between drug abuse and criminality, pledging that the army would continue to collaborate with NDLEA in the fight against illicit drug in the country.
He called for measures to be put in place to ensure that convicted drug traffickers be publicly named and shamed to prevent others from indulging in it.
According to him, a lot needs to be done to tackle the menace of drug abuse and trafficking and Nigerian army is always ready to support the NDLEA.