From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mohamed Marwa, has said the agency is working in partnership with other security apparatus to ensure Nigerians have a safe election experience, devoid of violence in 2023.
In addition, he expressed the readiness of the agency to mob up dangerous substances from every nook and cranny of the country before the general election.
Speaking in Abuja at the 15th year anniversary of the Human Right Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), Marwa said: “We shall redouble our effort to make sure we take out of the system substances that can catalyse violence.
He spoke through the Secretary of the agency, Shadrach Haruna, who represented him at the ceremony.
Speaking on the theme: “How Hard Drugs Fuel Election Violence in Nigeria,” Marwa said: “A world devoid of illicit drugs is a safer place. Indeed, there will always be conflicts and conflicting interests in society, but as we have learnt through decades of experience, the situation becomes more dangerous when illicit substances are in the mix, and even more precarious during the season of election.
“We are aware of the role of illicit substances in the escalation of violence and breakdown of law and order. Psychoactive drugs like methamphetamine, pharmaceutical opioids and cannabis are accompaniments to the tools of election violence.
“In this regard, we will rev up our offensive action as the country draws closer to electioneering, by deploying the full resources and assets of the agency to track, discover, interdict and mop up dangerous substances from every nook and cranny of our society.
“We have made important seizures in the past two weeks, including 2.3 million tablets of illicit pharmaceutical opioids and three drums of methamphetamine, which, if they had fallen into wrong hands, would no doubt play destabilising roles in the months ahead,” he said.
He assured Nigerians that the NDLEA is working towards a peaceful poll and will not relent in its effort to cleanse the country of illicit substances.
“You can look forward to further positive results in the weeks and months ahead,” he said.
Marwa commended HURIWA efforts for being a beacon of hope that people in power and in positions of authority will be held accountable for their action, and that justice and equity is assured for every member of the society.
Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Narcotics Drugs, Francis Agbo, backed the call by the NDLEA for politicians and public office-holders to undergo drug integrity tests before assuming duties.
Agbo, from Benue State, represents Ado/Ogbadigbo/Okpokwu Federal constituency in the 9th Assembly disclosed that a bill for a holistic amendment of the NDLEA Act shall be passed into law before the expiration of the present administration.
Earlier, HURIWA National Coordinator/founder, Emmanuel Onwubiko, insisted that all candidates vying for various offices in the forthcoming general election should be tested for drugs.