By John Ikani
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. General Buba Marwa (Retd), Monday, disclosed that 17% of Ogun State population engage in one form of drug abuse or another.
According to Marwa, the prevalence of drug abuse in the South-West zone of the country is 22.4 per cent.
Marwa revealed this during an official visit to Governor Dapo Abiodun at his Oke Mosan office, Abeokuta, as part of his nationwide appraisal and advocacy visit to the state commands of the NDLEA.
While commending governor Abiodun for partnering with the agency in combating the menace in the state, Marwa noted that NDLEA would need land in the state to build barracks for its personnel.
“With the high prevalence of drug abuse in the country, I want to solicit Your Excellency’s support in combating the menace in the state.
“As we all know, drug abuse destroys life, community and it has no respect for age, gender, and religion, hence, the need to engage critical stakeholders in the fight to stem the tide of this social malaise,” Marwa stated.
Responding, governor Abiodun lauded Marwa for stepping up the fight against drug abuse in the country, saying “the NDLEA has been reborn and is witnessing a new lease of life under your watch.”
He expressed the readiness of his administration to partner and assist the NDLEA in its quest to combat drug abuse in the country.
The governor later presented an operational van and two motorcycles to the Ogun State command of the agency to help its fight against drug abuse, while promising to donate land for the building of NDLEA staff quarters in the state.
