From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has charged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) urged heads of national drug law enforcement organisations in Africa to redouble their efforts in their respective countries to combat drug misuse and trafficking.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, in a statement, noted that Tinubu gave the charge in Abuja, yesterday, when he declared open the 31st meeting of the Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, Africa (HONLAF).
The president said the African continent would continue to be imprisoned until it is freed from the chains of the criminal enterprises of drug barons and drug syndicates.
“If we don’t dismantle the criminal enterprises that threaten our future and build a brighter tomorrow for all Africans, we will remain in chains in a diseased and amoral world, as will our children and their children,” he said.
In his keynote address titled, ‘Rising Above the Drug Threat’, the president, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the event, observed that Africa was “at the mercy of a threat that knows neither race nor geography, neither gender nor social class”.
To this end, he urged the leaders of the continent’s drug law enforcement organisations to view the Abuja meeting as a sign of hope and a spark for progress.
President Tinubu thanked them for their sacrifices in ensuring a world that is free of illicit drugs.
He said: “This threat has crossed borders and destroyed societies and dreams. Without the moral commitment of the men and women in this room, this threat would have left cities, countries, and even civilisations erased. So, I must commend you for your sacrifices in the bids to keep our world drug-free, sane and safe.
“This conference emphasises your investment across borders, to protect us from the devastations of drugs, a threat that only submits to the enforcement of the law. Therefore, we are grateful to HONLAF and its partners, notably the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, for creating this avenue, for offering intelligence and drug law enforcement officials a grand opportunity to compare notes, collaborate, and build networks that would be several steps ahead of the criminal network of drug transnational organisations.”
President Tinubu said in the last couple of decades, criminal organisations had made frantic efforts to breach the security measures in African countries, all in a bid to pollute the minds of their citizens. He hailed the fact that the anti-narcotics agencies have proven to be a thorn in their flesh.
The president, who doubles as the Chairman, Authority of Heads of State and Governments of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), stated: “But while it’s a compliment that drug-law enforcement organisations are a threat to their criminal empires, their desperation must never be taken for granted.
“Without you as gatekeepers of healthy nations, humanity, as we know it, would have long been perverted. So, on behalf of the world, I say, thank you; thank you to all of you who have kept us from being polluted and destroyed.
“For us, the commitment to the fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse is not just a matter of policy; it is a moral imperative. We recognise that a population at war with drugs is not a dividend, but a liability. We believe that the future of our youth, the strength of our institutions, and the well-being of our communities depend on our ability to eradicate this threat.”
Further emphasising the need for the anti-narcotics agencies to deepen operational existing ties and collaboration among them at the sub-regional and regional levels, Tinubu emphasised the necessity of consolidating existent contacts. This, he said, would make trafficking of illicit drugs and movement of drug syndicates difficult in the African continent.
Tinubu continued: “So, I must appeal to you to see this gathering as an avenue for the exchange of novel ideas and the development of practical strategies. We must consolidate established contacts, operational partnerships, and cooperation to ensure that the outcomes of this four-day deliberation advance public safety and the emergence of drug-free African communities.
“Our strength has always been our proactive actions to prevent any individual or group from turning our countries into a minefield of drug trafficking. So, we must prioritise prevention, education, and rehabilitation to empower our youth with knowledge and opportunities. We must steer them away from the treacherous path of drug abuse and trafficking and protect our economy from the consequences of their actions.
“This administration will continue to provide the necessary support, motivation, and tools for the NDLEA to fulfil its mandate. We understand the connection between the success of the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking and the attainment of a number of goals on our socioeconomic and security agenda.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I know you don’t need to be reminded of the sacred task before us. I know you are fully aware of the number of people and dreams that depend on your decisions and actions to reach their destination. But, more importantly, I know that you are up to the task.”
On the choice of Nigeria for the conference, President Tinubu said it is a profound recognition of the campaign and fight against illicit drugs in the country by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
“We are hosting the 31st HONLAF meeting here to reassure you of our promise to participate in building a world not threatened by the infiltration of illicit drugs,” he added.
Declaring the meeting open, Tinubu said: “While I encourage you to take some time out from the busy schedule of your programmes to enjoy the beauty and hospitality of Abuja, I thank you for your dedication and resolve in this noble cause and look forward to the fruitful discussions and partnerships that will emerge from this gathering.”
In his welcome remarks, Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), restated the stakeholders’ commitment to addressing the world’s drug problem, noting that Nigeria would continue to uphold the objectives of multilateral organisations dedicated to combating drug trafficking and related crimes.
He emphasised the need for global partnerships in addressing drug trafficking and other vices, noting that the world’s drug problem cannot be effectively tackled by individual entities.
Speakers at the opening session of the meeting included the Executive Director, United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC), Mr Ghada Fathi Waly; the UNODC Country Representative, Mr Oliver Stolpe; the Commandant, National Institute for Security Studies, Mr Ayodele Adeleke, and representative of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, among others.