Anti-Drug War: NDLEA Back On Track -Reps Committee Chair
… Says Marwa, New Sheriff In Town

Member of the House of Representatives representing Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu Federal Constituency in Benue State, Dr. Francis Agbo, has commended the chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd) for breathing life into agency.

Agbo, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Narcotics,  lauded Marwa for sanitizing the health sector by intercepting large quantities of narcotic drugs and substandard drugs across the country.

In an interractive session with newsmen in his office, the legislator said the NDLEA boss had in less than six months of assuming office, succeeded in getting the agency back on track to performance, by bursting many drug rings and syndicates, as well as seizing and destroying large quantities of illicit drugs.

Agbo, who is also spokesperson for the Minority Caucus in the lower chamber of the National Assembly, said NDLEA under Marwa’s leadership is reminiscent of the days of Prof. Dora Akunyili in NAFDAC when fake, expired drugs and substandard food brands were drastically reduced to the admiration of all and sundry.

He noted that Marwa’s appointment as chairman of the NDLEA has shown Nigerians that the problem of drug trafficking and substance abuse is real and needs all hands to be on deck to combat them head-on, adding that his efforts has also demonstrated that with courage and determination, the fight against drug addiction can be won.

“I’ve been an advocate of optimum, staffing, equipping and funding the NDLEA to achieve its statutory mandate due to the menace of substance abuse and drug addiction in the country.

I have said several times that the NDLEA needs all the support to carry out its mandate but I’m surprised that even with the little on ground, the agency, under the able leadership of Gen. Buba Marwa, has been able to achieve a lot by taking the fight to the criminals and this has given me the confidence as chairman of the Narcortic Drugs Committee to further push for the necessary incentives for the agency to function at optimal level. Clearly, it is very clear that Marwa is the new Sheriff in town and he has proved this by clearing the doubt of drug barons, syndicates and trafficker”, Agbo said

Marwa had in March, disclosed before the House of Representatives Committee on Narcotic Drugs that his agency intercepted and destroyed illicit drugs worth over an N60 billion within three months of his assuming office.

Recently, the NDLEA  also, seized140 grammes of Methamphetamine packaged in the statue of Mary and another 500 grammes of heroin concealed in auto spare parts heading to Canada were also intercepted at a second courier company and as well arrested 31 suspects in Ondo State for being in possession of 276 kg of assorted illicit drugs just as it intercepted 834.5kg illicit drugs en-route U.S. in Lagos.