20100329
allafrica

Lagos — The Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Alhaji Ahmadu Giade, has called on stakeholders to intensify drug control efforts as he identified illicit drug trafficking as a major threat to political stability in West Africa.

Giade made the call at a public lecture organised by the wife of the governor of Bauchi State and founder of Challenge Your Disability Initiative (CYDI), Hajia Hauwa Abiodun Isa Yuguda in Bauchi State at the weekend.

Speaking on the topic, Implications of Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking on Internal Security, Giade identified political thuggery, low productivity, money laundering, violent crimes, militancy and youth restiveness as some of the consequences of the obnoxious trade. These consequences can undermine the peace and stability of a state.

He challenged those who are of the opinion that illicit drugs are only a threat to developed countries to have a rethink.

The NDLEA boss said the drug problem in Nigeria and West Africa is real. Daily seizures of narcotics and psychotropic drugs as well as pressure on drug counseling/rehabilitation facilities are clear indication of the worrisome state of illicit drugs.

He also cited a report by the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) that listed some of the countries most affected in the region to include Republic of Benin, Cape Verde, Cote dívoire, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania, Senegal, Ghana and Togo.

Giade stressed that the region is fast becoming the target of drug barons that smuggle drugs from source countries like Latin America and Middle East through the region to United States and Europe.

According to Giade, "the existence of clandestine laboratories show that drug cartels are not only smuggling drugs through the region, but also developing sophisticated on-site capacities for producing narcotics".

He however, gave assurance that the situation is not helpless but requires the concerted efforts of all stakeholders. "The drug situation in the region would have been worse if not for the deliberate control measures by member countries. Worthy of mention is the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan 2008-2011 to address the drug problem in the region".

Besides the contribution of individual efforts of countries in the region as well as regional bodies like the ECOWAS, Giade listed some practical recommendations that will help in making the region drug free. These include active stakeholder participation, proactive and effective planning of drug demand reduction strategies and conduct of drug research to ascertain the complicated chain of drug production, trafficking and abuse. Others are adequate penal sanctions, improved funding and support by international collaboration.

The governor's wife, Hajia Hauwa in her address also lent her voice to the looming threat posed by illicit drugs and urged participants to improve their lifestyles and those of their neighbours with the knowledge acquired at the lecture. "Let no one under any illusion think that the threat of drug abuse is not real. It is hoped that at the end of this lecture, we should become better informed on the scourge of drug abuse and appreciate the need to work together for a drug free tomorrow".