Buba Marwa
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Buba Marwa, has warned politicians against sponsoring or encouraging the use of illicit drugs.
Marwa stated this on Thursday, October 21, during the weekly ministerial briefing at the State House in Abuja.
He stressed that where there was evidence of the involvement of any politician in the illicit drug business, the agency would not hesitate to prosecute anyone involved. According to the NDLEA boss, the agency will never support the economic use of cannabis; because there is no scientific proof that it heals.
With about 10.6 million users, Nigeria leads in the consumption of cannabis; hence its legalization would never be considered in the interest of the nation, he added.
Marwa proposed that politicians should not only advance advocacy against illicit drug use; but be subjected to a test before being entrusted with the responsibility of public offices.
He proposed 20 years or life sentence for drug traffickers to replace the option of a fine, as enshrined in the NDLEA Act currently under revision in the National Assembly.
Meanwhile, a presidential aspirant under the African Democratic Congress, Kingsley Moghalu, has blamed the failure of governance for turning the youth into a threat.
Moghalu made this call in a statement on Wednesday, October 20, in the wake of the #EndSARS memorial protests.
According to him, the youths are Nigeria’s most productive asset but have become a threat to the government because of its failures.
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He said, “Nigeria’s young men and women face many fundamental challenges. The strength of their numbers (nearly 70 per cent of our population) is supposed to be the country’s most productive asset; but the failure of governance has turned this into a threat; and the #EndSARS movement has witnessed efforts to silence the voices of our young people; physically and on social media including the ‘Twitter ban’.
“A year ago, Nigerian youth organised themselves in the peaceful #EndSARS protests; to demand freedom from police brutality. Quite sadly, the bravery of the young compatriots was met with even more brutality.
“Like millions of fellow citizens, and indeed the youth, today; I especially remember those who paid the ultimate price for freedom during the protest. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten or in vain.”
