The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said Nigeria cannot follow the example of other nations by legalizing cannabis growing and use because of the harm that would result.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, made this statement on Friday while hosting a delegation from Media Trust management in his office. The mission was led by Mounir Gwarzo, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Media Trust Group (MTG).
Marwa claims that the drug epidemic affects every Nigerian.
It is everywhere, Marwa remarked. The fact that it also lies at the heart of all forms of criminality—insurgents, terrorists, and bandits—makes it the biggest issue.
There are around 15 million drug users in Nigeria, which is a very high prevalence that is close to three times the global frequency. When it comes to drugs, there is a problem in every town, and it is increasingly affecting families and neighborhoods. As stakeholders, it’s imperative that we all take action and meet this challenge.
And the President declared a war on drug usage last year in light of this. Because we are all affected, the goal of the fight against drug usage is to raise awareness and empower Nigerians to take personal responsibility for it.
In order to avoid the United Nations’ (UN) estimate that the country’s 15 million drug users may quadruple in next 20 years, he said Nigerians must prioritize the anti-drug campaign.
About 28 states in the US have really lifted the prohibition on cannabis. However, I was only watching President Biden yesterday (Thursday) when he was in the process of lifting the moratorium. Actually, the situation is different.
“First of all, it is against the law to possess illegal narcotics in Nigeria. Now it is up to the judges’ discretion to decide whether the possession merits the appropriate sentence.
“First of all, it is against the law to possess illegal narcotics in Nigeria. Now it is up to the judges’ discretion to decide whether the possession merits the appropriate sentence. Although the NDLEA recognizes that having it is illegal, we also used all available tools to assess whether the person who has it is dealing or using it for personal consumption. We frequently refrain from criminalizing and punishing consumers, even if they are just regular users. Instead, we treat them, and I believe this is a crucial argument for Medicare. Over 12,000 of the 18,900 arrests that occurred during my tenure thus far received counseling and treatment.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) praised the Media Trust for carving out a market based on professionalism, competency, and ethics.
“You have quickly established yourself, and you have grown beyond the print media that we are all familiar with to include web, radio, and television, which we all watch. We hope you have great success. And we value the media attention we are receiving as well,” he added.
Gwarzo, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Media Trust Group (MTG), praised the NDLEA previously for its accomplishments.
“I am thrilled to learn how well NDLEA is doing. The Daily Trust has been covering the fantastic work you have been doing, and my chairman gave me a message to you saying that we want to keep working together and doing what is right for the country.
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“And also to let you know that Media Trust is no longer only a newspaper company. Radio, television, and digital all serve to broaden the scope of our offerings and give the general public more venues.
We are prepared to support you because we think your organization will benefit from using these platforms and from the good job you have been doing, Gwarzo stated.
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